“It is important that it is on Lake Baikal that a vessel of this class and level appears. It will allow for full-fledged studies of Baikal’s aquatic biological resources, as well as more accurately predict what will happen to the ecological state of Lake Baikal, since scientists will conduct not only resource surveys, but other types of research together with the Russian Academy of Sciences,” noted the head of Rosrybolovstvo, Ilya Shestakov.
The ship is named in honor of Vikenty Petrovich Zaitsev, who headed VNIRO in 1956–1962 and made a great contribution to the development of industrial science on Lake Baikal.
The R/V Vikenty Zaitsev will be equipped with modern equipment for conducting research to assess the reserves of aquatic biological resources, including the Baikal omul. The data obtained will allow us to intensify work on the second stage of the omul population restoration program.
Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), Doctor of Economics, Professor Kirill Kolonchin, opening the event, emphasized: “The construction of this vessel became possible thanks to the great cooperation of many organizations throughout Russia. This is an example of how the whole world can do a great common cause. We, together with our contractors, will carry out the responsible task of preserving the biodiversity of Lake Baikal’s unique aquatic ecosystem. Starting next year, scientists on the new ship will begin full-scale work. I wish “Vikentiy Zaitsev” seven feet under the keel!”
VNIRO press service