Petrozavodsk shipbuilders repaired the research vessel (R/V) "Professor Zenkevich" (Project "Askold-53") at the Varyag shipyard. It was sent to work at the White Sea Biological Station of Lomonosov Moscow State University (located on the coast of Kandalaksha Bay). This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Karelia.

The research vessel arrived in Petrozavodsk in the autumn of 2025. It was moved to the slipway bay (a room with powerful cranes for securing the vessel). Specialists repaired the hull, wheelhouse, and superstructure of the vessel, performed technical maintenance of the main and auxiliary engines and ship devices.

In addition, scientific equipment was modernized. According to the Unified Information System in the Procurement Sector, the cost of repairs amounted to almost 34 million rubles.

Characteristics of Project "Askold-53" vessels:

• Length — 18.4 m
• Width — 5.1 m
• Board height — 2.5 m
• Draft — 1.7 m
• Engine power — 175 hp
• Displacement — 40 t
• Speed — 8 knots

The R/V "Professor Zenkevich" was built at the Varyag shipyard in 2015. The vessel is designed for sampling plankton and bottom sediments, conducting ichthyological research, and studying underwater topography.