Ivan Frolov Research Vessel (Project 23680) was officially laid down in St. Petersburg.

A new flagship of Russian polar science will be built at the Admiralty Shipyards and will join the fleet of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).

On October 29, the Admiralty Shipyards held a ceremony marking the start of construction for the Ivan Frolov, a scientific and expedition vessel of Project 23680. Set to become the largest of its kind globally, the vessel has a budget of nearly 40 billion rubles (411 million dollars) from the Russian government. This vessel will have a displacement of 25,000 tons, a length of 164.8 metres, and is designed to handle the harsh polar conditions as an icebreaker, expedition support ship, and research base. Named after the longtime director of AARI, Ivan Frolov, the vessel honours his contributions to polar research.

The state contract to build the Ivan Frolov was signed in March 2023 between the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) and Admiralty Shipyards JSC. The vessel will replace the current research vessel, Akademik Fyodorov, in operation since 1987.

The Ivan Frolov will meet the Arc7 class of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. It will be nearly 165 metres long with a displacement of around 25,000 tons, accommodating up to 240 people, including 70 crew members and up to 170 researchers and aviation team members. Designed with its mission in mind, the vessel will feature up to 20 laboratories for research from ocean floor to stratosphere, and a helicopter complex with two helipads and a hangar for Ka-32, Mi-8, and Mi-38 helicopters.

Source: Korabel.ru

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