The first expedition of the POI FEB RAS in 2026

The V.I. II’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute FEB RAS is conducting a research voyage on the vessel "Akademik Oparin" from May 4 to June 8, 2026. The voyage will last for 36 days.

Research vessel "Akademik Oparin"

Scientists will study how natural processes and human activities influence the coastal marine ecosystems of Eastern Kamchatka, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and Peter the Great Bay.

The expedition leader is Pavel Yuryevich Semkin, PhD in Geochemistry and head of the institute's hydrochemistry laboratory. A total of 30 people are participating in the research: staff and students from the POI FEB RAS, the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS, the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology and Biotechnology FEB RAS and Lomonosov Moscow State University. Seven Chinese nationals from three scientific and educational institutions are also participating: the National Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (East China Normal University), the Second Institute of Oceanography and Yanbian University.

Participants of the first POI FEB RAS expedition on the research vessel “Akademik Oparin” in 2026

During the first three days of the expedition, comprehensive surveys were carried out near the mouth of the Tumannaya River. At the same time, Chinese colleagues conducted chemical studies of the Tumannaya River's waters within China.

The further expedition's route will cover Avacha, Kronotsky, and Kamchatka Bays, as well as the adjacent Pacific Ocean and the coastal waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk near Western Kamchatka. A landing on the Kamchatka coast is planned to collect river, groundwater, and coastal water samples.

The work package includes probing the water column and collecting water samples for hydrochemical, microelement, and isotope analysis, measuring currents, collecting bottom sediments using large geological tubes, observing marine mammals, and preparing biological samples for further laboratory research.

Sampling from the research vessel “Akademik Oparin” 

Preparing the core tube for use

Multicorer with bottom sediment and near-bottom water samples on board

Sediment core splitting

The expedition is expected to explain the patterns of terrestrial material input from Kamchatka's volcanic catchments and understand how volcanic activity impacts coastal marine ecosystems, as well as the intermediate and deep waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean near Kamchatka. The results will help develop recommendations for environmental safety in the Kamchatka region, update environmental regulations, and strengthen cooperation between Russia and China in preserving marine water quality.