Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Akademik-B.petrov

The 'Akademik Boris Petrov', a Russian research ship, embarked on its journey from Kaliningrad on August 20, 2025, sailing towards the North Sea. The Russian Ministry of Science confirmed that ten students are onboard as part of a scientific team dedicated to studying hazardous geological processes on the seabed and mapping the Kara and Laptev Seas. On August 21, the vessel was detected navigating at a reduced speed near the Adlergrund area off Rügen, in close proximity to the German Economic Zone (EEZ). Instead of maintaining its typical cruising speed of ten to twelve knots, the 'Akademik Boris Petrov' opted for a slower pace, traveling at seven to eight knots through channels surrounding wind farms. This prompted the Federal Police to initially deploy the patrol boat 'Bad Bramstedt' for surveillance, which was later relieved by the 'Neustadt' near Fehmarn. Fortunately, no abnormalities were noted during its passage from Adlergrund to the exit of the German EEZ, and no irregularities regarding its speed were observed. Operating under the auspices of the state-controlled Shirshov Institute in Moscow, the 'Akademik Boris Petrov' had previously raised eyebrows during a 2022 trip to the Netherlands, where it also cruised at a notably slow speed near underwater wind farms and submarine cables, leading to speculation about potential espionage activities related to critical infrastructure. By August 22, the research vessel had reached the Skagerrak and was on a course along the Norwegian coast by August 25, ultimately heading towards Murmansk. The route taken through the Fehmarn Belt represented a significant deviation from the more direct passage through the Øresund, which would have led it past Copenhagen. Significantly, the Fehmarn Belt and Great Belt regions are home to sensitive military installations and several submerged cables. It remains uncertain whether the 'Akademik Boris Petrov' conducted any seabed surveys or pinpointed the locations of submarine cables associated with wind farms during its transit. For additional details and images, please refer to the report here: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/ostsee-bei-kiel-windparks-im-visier-bundespolizei-beschattet-russisches-schiff-VIZUS4NECNCCJO6DEFW5GUZM6M.html

On August 12, 2018, at 2:30 PM, the research vessel 'Akadamik Boris Petrov' came to the aid of the skipper of the German 12-meter yacht 'Godewind,' which had overturned in treacherous waters approximately 32 miles off the Hel Peninsula, caught in wind conditions measuring 6 to 8 Beaufort and wave heights escalating between five to eight meters. The yacht's skipper managed to remain secured in the rigging as the tumultuous sea raged around him, while unfortunately, another member of the crew went overboard and has since been reported missing, despite extensive rescue efforts. Efforts to locate the missing sailor were conducted by helicopters and vessels from both Poland and Russia, but these were ultimately halted on August 14 due to the difficult conditions. Following the incident, the damaged 'Godewind' was towed to Gdansk for necessary repairs, marking a dramatic day on the water.

On December 17, 2023, the Russian consul in Mumbai confirmed the release of the Akademik Boris Petrov, a research vessel that had been detained for two years in India. The vessel, after being freed from the Mumbai port, is now en route to a designated service base, as stated by consul Alexei Novikov. The legal issues surrounding the ship began when it was arrested following a lawsuit filed by its Indian agent, due to alleged non-payment by the Russian Academy of Sciences' V. I. Vernadsky Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry Institute, the ship's owner. Consul Novikov remarked, 'The ship has been in India for about two years.' Fortunately, the situation took a favorable turn when the High Court of Mumbai ruled on December 10 to lift the arrest, allowing the Akademik Boris Petrov to finally depart from the port on December 13. The vessel was actively engaged in research activities off the coast of Goa at the time of its arrest two years prior.