An expedition to explore the shelf in the Arctic Ocean started from Murmansk. The research drilling vessel "Bavenit", which carries innovative Russian equipment, will obtain samples of shelf rock to build a geological model of the Arctic.
The expedition is organized by the Arctic Scientific Center of Rosneft. As you know, the Arctic is of strategic importance for Russia. According to some estimates, the volume of conventional fuel in the region exceeds 173 billion tons.
It is expected that the research will last until mid-September. The drilling vessel "Bavenit" will arrive at the port of Pevek (a modern, highly mechanized, large port of the Northern Sea Route).
In 2023, Russia received partial approval from the UN Commission to expand the continental shelf. The materials that the crew of the vessel "Bavenit" will receive in this expedition will be used to assert the right to expansion.
Drilling in the Laptev Sea in the area of the Taimyr Peninsula will also strengthen the geological justification for the Russian Federation's application.
Read more on the topic:
The Russian Northern Sea Route has become almost twice as popular
Rosatom will build high ice-class vessels with China for passage along the Northern Sea Route