Nevskoe Marine Engineering Bureau has been selected to design the unique research expedition vessel “Ivan Frolov” to be built at Admiralty Shipyard, United Shipbuilding Corporation said in a statement.
Admiralty Shipyard signed a contract to build the research expedition vessel with the RF Federal Service for hydrometeorology and environmental monitoring in March this year. The aerodynamic model tests currently held at the Krylov Research Center to define the aerodynamic characteristics of the vessel are to be completed soon.
The “Ivan Frolov” research vessel will be operated by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute and will be deployed in the framework of the Antarctic Programme of the Russian Federation.
The 165 m LOA 9,200 dwt vessel will have an Arc7 ice notation It will have up to 20 laboratories, a helipad and a hangar to accommodate two helicopters. The number of the crew and researchers will make 240 people.
The vessel will serve as a base for dozens of research projects at a time ranging from ocean bottom to upper atmosphere and cosmos research.
It is expected that in 6 years the “Ivan Frolov” will replace Russia’s present lead research vessel “Akademik Fedorov” and will be in service for 30 years at least.
Photo: courtesy of United Shipbuilding Corporation