Russia's polar research vessel Ivan Frolov to be launched in 2027

ST. PETERSBURG, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia's flagship polar research vessel, the Ivan Frolov, is scheduled to be launched in 2027, with its hull currently more than 50 percent complete, a representative of the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg said Tuesday.

"Work on the hull of the research and expedition vessel Ivan Frolov is more than 50 percent complete, and the launch of the vessel is planned for 2027," the representative said, quoted by RIA Novosti.

The state contract authorizing the construction of the vessel was signed in March 2023, marking the official start of the project. Since then, engineers have finalized the technical design, and the keel was laid in October 2024. Currently, preparations are underway to load oversized equipment, and the installation of the engine room foundations is in progress.

The Ivan Frolov is being built based on a design by Nevskoye Design Bureau, commissioned by Russia's Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring to operate in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

With a capacity to carry up to 240 people, the vessel will be capable of transporting cargo and fuel to polar stations, as well as unloading directly onto undeveloped shorelines and ice barriers.

Designed as a floating research hub, the ship will accommodate up to 20 laboratories capable of conducting studies ranging from the ocean floor to the stratosphere. The vessel will also feature a helicopter complex equipped for two helicopters, compatible with models such as the Ka-32, Mi-8, and Mi-38. Enditem