Akademik Fyodorov icebreaker

The 1987-built RV Akademik Fyodorov ("ледокол Академик Фёдоров") is an icebreaking research vessel (RV) owned and operated by AARI ("Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute" / "Арктический и антарктический научно-исследовательский институт", abbreviated as "ААНИИ"). AARI is located in Saint Petersburg and is the oldest and largest research institute in the Russian Federation in the field of comprehensive studies of Arctic and Antarctica. The other AARI-operated icebreaker is Akademik Tryoshnikov (2012-built).

The vessel (IMO number 8519837) is Russia-flagged (MMSI 273412710) and registered in Sankt-Petersburg.

Akademik Fyodorov's shipbuilder is Rauma Shipyard Finland. The vessel was completed on September 8, 1987, with the Maiden Voyage from St Petersburg departing on October 24th.

One of the Russian icebreaker ships, Akademik Fyodorov is a diesel-electric research vessel (RV) and before 2012 (when Akademik Tryoshnikov was inaugurated) was the flagship of the Russian scientific polar research fleet. The vessel was built for the USSR (Soviet Union) and started operations on October 24, 1987 (Maiden Voyage). This ship is named after the polar explorer Yevgeny Konstantinovich Fyodorov (Евгений Константинович Фёдоров, 1910-1981), who worked on the North Pole-1 Station (Северный полюс-1/ the first Russian drifting ice research station) in the period 1937-38.

On August 1, 2007, RV Akademik Fyodorov departed St-Petersburg en route to the North Pole as part of Russia's efforts to lay pretense to the seabed beneath the North Pole. The icebreaker sailed with 100 personnel (researchers and scientists) and was additionally equipped with 2x deep-sea mini-submarines. The scientists were dispatched to a depth of 4000+ m (13200+ ft) where they dropped a titanium capsule with the Russian flag in it. This was a symbolic gesture reminiscent of the USA planting the American flag on the surface of the moon. However, this act doesn't guarantee any Russian rights to extract gas and oil from the sea bed. The scientists aboard Akademik Fyodorov searched for evidence that the 2000 km (1240 mi) underwater mountain range (named Lomonosov Ridge) was actually a geologic extension of Russia. This allowed Russia to lay claim to this region which was under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Canadian and Danish governments are expected to put forth their own scientific efforts to show that the Lomonosov Ridge is not part of the Russian territory.

Akademik Fyodorov itinerary program offers scientific and cruise expeditions to both the North Pole (from homeport St Petersburg) and to Antarctica (leaving from Cape Town, South Africa).

Akademik Fyodorov vessel details

The vessel (Rauma shipyard/hull number 300) is powered by 4x Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 16V32D, each 6,5 MW) with total power output 26 MW. Onboard facilities include Messhall (dining room/bar lounge), Sauna Room, aft Helideck (1x helipad with a helicopter), forward Working Deck (served by 3x heavy cranes/2x large, 1x at the bow), forward Cargo Hold (indoor storage for bulk cargoes and motorized vehicles), A-Frame (aft), 4x lifeboats.

• Max Draft: 8,5 m / 28 ft
• Displacement tonnage: 16200 tons
• Fuel tanks capacity: 3850

After the ship is named the Akademik Federov Canyon in the Weddell Sea. The name for this underwater canyon was proposed in 1997 by the Bremerhaven's AWI/Alfred Wegener Institut (1980-founded, specializes in polar and marine research, part of Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren/Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres)..

Note: In the case of poor AIS coverage, tracking the vessel's current location will be impossible. You can see CruiseMapper's list of all icebreakers and ice-breaking research ships in the "itinerary" section of our Icebreakers hub. All states and their fleets are listed there.