The research vessel “Professor Molchanov” left Murmansk for the Svalbard archipelago. This is the first direct visa-free voyage between Russia and the island in recent years.
The research vessel “Professor Molchanov” departed from Murmansk for the Svalbard archipelago. This is the first direct sea cargo-passenger voyage without visa restrictions for the last ten years. The vessel will deliver to the island tourists, miners, scientists and cargoes necessary to supply Russian settlements.
According to the press service of the Arktikugol Trust, the voyage is the result of a joint project with the Marine Practice Company. The journey to Barentsburg will take three days, after which the expedition participants will have a five-day tour of the Russian settlements of Barentsburg, Piramida, Grumant and Kolsbey, as well as Norwegian Longyear and the sights of the Is-fjord.
A total of two voyages are planned for June, with the first ending June 12 and the second starting June 13. The capacity of the ship is 40 passengers. The cost of tickets starts from 570 thousand rubles, luxury cabins cost up to 950 thousand rubles.
Spitsbergen is an international archipelago in the Arctic, where Russia, according to the Paris Treaty, retains the right to scientific and economic activities. With visa restrictions from Norway, direct sea communication has become the only way to reach Barentsburg and other settlements in the region.
The organizers of the expedition said that the project opens up the prospect of regular sea communication between Murmansk and Spitsbergen, contributing to the development of Arctic tourism and supporting Russian Arctic settlements.