Russian hydrographers to specify national Arctic continental shelf boundaries
© RIA Novosti. Boris Prihodko

Russian hydrographers to specify national Arctic continental shelf boundaries

On September 6, the hydrographic survey vessel Vizir from the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet sailed for the Barents Sea in order to conduct oceanographic research near the islands of Vize, Ushakov, Schmidt and the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, fleet spokesman Vadim Serga said.

"The hydrographic expedition is to accomplish an important state objective and to specify the coordinates of initial points determining the geographic position of the baselines from which the breadth of Russia's territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean will be measured," Mr. Serga told Rossiya Segodnya.

The Russian Navy has never organized such an expedition before, he noted. Expedition members are to study the seabed relief in Arctic areas located far from the main Northern Fleet bases.

They will also collect vital data for updating navigation charts, manuals and other related instructions. The ship is to complete its voyage in mid-October, Mr. Serga added.