Cruise ShipsPast and Present

MV Akademik Ioffe – Past and Present

MV Akademik Ioffe

© Nigel Thornton

© Nigel Thornton (Dover)

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1989 by Hollming Oy, Rauma (Yard No 266) as a Research Vessel for the Russian Academy of Science

Technical Data

  • Length: 117.93 m (overall) m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 18.22 m
  • Depth: 10.01 m
  • Draught: 5.901m
  • Tonnage: 6321 – 6450 gross/1869 net/6718 deadweight
  • Engines: 2 Oil 4Sa 6 – cylinder Semt Pielstick/Russkiy 6 CHN 40/46 diesels
  • Power: 5152 kW/7004 HP
  • Speed: 16 knots
  • Passenger Decks: 3
  • Staff & Crew: 53
  • Capacity: 110 passengers
  • Call Sign: UKLP, UAUN
  • MMSI Number: 273413400
  • IMO Number: 8507731
  • Official Number: M-17591
  • Port of Registry: Kaliningrad/Russia
  • Sister-Ship: Akademik Sergey Vavilov


Current AIS Location


Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.


History

February 27th 1987: Keel laid.

August 28th 1987: Launched.

February 10th 1989: Completed.

Both vessels are modified versions of the Akademik Mstislav Keldysh type, a single vessel completed in 1980. AKADEMIK IOFFE differed from her sister in that she was fitted with two multi-sectional sails on the aft end of her bridge deck to provide thrust when conducting silent acoustic research operations.

© Fotoflite

🆕© Fotoflite (131515)

1989: Entered service for USSR Academy of Sciences as a ice-strengthened passenger-oceanographic research vessel.

1991: Operated by Russian Academy of Science.

1995: Peregrine Adventure-Quark Expeditions.

© Mikkel  © Mikkel

© Mikkel

2003: Refit.

2008: Leased by One Ocean Expeditions(OOE)

© Capt Jan Melchers

© Capt Jan Melchers

2009: Converted to a passenger/cruise ship.

2012: Refit.

© Edson de Lima Lucas

© Edson de Lima Lucas ( Rio, 07/04/2017)

August 24th 2018: “All the passengers and some crew members and luggage were taken off grounded vessel on August 25th and transferred to sister vessel, AKADEMIK SERGEY VAVILOV in northern Canada while en route to Kugaaruk. Other crew members on the damaged vessel stayed behind following the transfer of passengers. The transfer operation took place after the vessel was ref-floated late on August 24th. The ship was floating free, but anchored, in a stable situation. No pollution has been observed. Owned and managed by the Shirshov Institute, Moscow, Russia.”.

© Edson de Lima Lucas

© Edson de Lima Lucas ( Rio, 14/01/2019)

May 2019: “Canada-based OOE has leased Russian ships the MV AKADEMIK IOFFE and the MV AKADEMIK SERGEY VAVILOV since 2011 and 2012 respectively, using them to take travellers on cruises through the Arctic and Antarctic. However, in late May, following the end of this year’s Antarctic travel season and ahead of the Arctic season, the Russian government seized the ships from OOE. Russia claimed the IOFFE and VAVILOV had to be taken to Kaliningrad for works as part of a “modernisation project”. OOE rejects the claim the ships needed work and has launched legal action”.

Russian Statement on Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov

May 29, 2019

The P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS) has issued a statement regarding the Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov, a pair of expedition ships that were set to operate for One Ocean Expeditions this summer before the charter contract was seemingly cancelled.

“The IO RAS has no contractual relationships with and, consequently, not liable to the One Ocean Expeditions,” the IO RAS said in a statement sent to Cruise Industry News.

The agency said that the pair of expedition ships were on a time charter deal to Terragelida Ship Management Ltd. through fall 2019.

Terragelida Ship Management describes itself a vessel management company, specializing in technical and commercial management, ship brokering and crew management.The Cyprus-based company lists IO RAS as a partner on its website.

“The vessels have been properly maintained and are available in Kaliningrad,” the IO RAS said in its statement. “Terragelida Ship Management Ltd. duly fulfils its commitments assumed within the framework of the contract with IO RAS.

“The ships are time-chartered and the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences, the owner of the vessels, is not to be blame for cancellation of cruises, as announced by the One Ocean Expeditions.”

The agency said the vessels are ready to begin cruise operations immediately.

Source: Cruise Industry News

May 4th 2019: Arrived in Kaliningrad.


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Edson de Lima Lucas, Capt Jan Melchers and Nigel Scutt (Dover Strait Shipping) for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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