During a working trip to the Odesa region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed the Noosphere research icebreaker purchased at the expense of the state, which will provide logistics for the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base.
This icebreaker was formerly part of the British Antarctic Mission and was called James Clark Ross. This year the ship was sold to the National Antarctic Research Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. On October 5, 2021, the icebreaker entered the waters of the port of Odesa. The port of its documentation is Odesa.
On board the icebreaker, Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed the science laboratory, the main cabin and the control center.
After all the necessary procedures and changing the name of the ship to "Noosphere", the icebreaker will go into the ocean this year and head for Antarctica in the direction of the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base.
Earlier, Ukrainian polar explorers complained to the President about the lack of a ship. Today, during a video conference, Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally informed the researchers at the Vernadsky Research Base about the arrival of the long-awaited icebreaker in Ukraine.
"Noosphere" is coming to you soon. So welcome this Ukrainian "scientific beauty". Congratulations!” he said.
The Head of State also said that a large-scale program for the revival of Ukraine's research fleet would be developed, including the construction of 36 ships.
"Today the launch of this program was presented. Many steps and many wishes. The key thing is that we move from words to concrete deeds,” the President said.
In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy got himself acquainted with the capabilities of the Borys Aleksandrov research vessel, which will be used to monitor the bottom of the Black Sea and collect environmental data. Ukraine received this ship, formerly known as "Belgica", as a gift from Belgium.
