The first reconnaissance expedition of the Tropical Center on the research vessel “Professor Gagarinsky”

On June 2, 2026, the first scientific reconnaissance marine expedition aboard the research vessel “Professor Gagarinsky” began. The expedition is being conducted as part of the Scientific Research and Applied Work Program of the Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center (Tropical Center) for the period 2025–2029. The route lies in the waters of the East China Sea. The voyage will last from June 2 to July 9, 2026.

The expedition's primary objectives are to conduct ecological and oceanographic research and optimize collaboration between Russian and Vietnamese scientific teams. In agreement with the Russian scientific institutions participating in the expedition and the Tropical Research Center's administration, Nadezhda Aleksandrovna Lipinskaya, PhD (Phys.-Math.), Senior Researcher of the Laboratory of Satellite Oceanology and Laser Sensing of the POI FEB RAS, has been appointed as the leader of the Russian scientific team.

In addition to N.A. Lipinskaya, the Russian expedition team included:

• Fedor Olegovich Artyushkov (IPEE RAS);
• Maxim Ivanovich Gorbov (POI FEB RAS);
• Andrey Veniaminovich Zavyalov (IBSS RAS).

Ph.D. (Phys.-Math.) Lipinskaya N.A.

All Russian participants have extensive expedition experience, which will help their Vietnamese colleagues from the Tropical Research Center gain familiarity with marine research. It should be noted that the Pacific Oceanological Institute FEB RAS staff arrived in Vietnam well in advance, on May 13. This allowed them to actively participate in pre-expedition preparations and coordinate the work, including visiting the Tropical Research Center's marine branch in Nha Trang.

Preparations for testing equipment on the research vessel “Professor Gagarinsky”