Twice beyond the Arctic Circle and international ocean research: icebreaker "Noosfera" completes record-breaking season
Kyiv • UNN
The vessel returned to Cape Town after seven months of operation and 18 crossings of the Drake Passage. For the first time, scientists conducted research beyond the Arctic Circle.
The fifth Antarctic season of the Ukrainian research icebreaker "Noosphere" has concluded. The vessel returned to the port of Cape Town (South Africa), where it is based between polar missions. According to the National Antarctic Scientific Center, this season set records in many areas, UNN reports.
Duration and number of voyages
The season lasted over 7 months — from mid-October to the end of May (for comparison: the previous one was nearly 5 months). The "Noosphere" crew completed a record 9 voyages to the Antarctic and crossed the Drake Passage — the stormiest place on the planet — 18 times. In total, the vessel covered over 30,000 miles (more than 56,000 km), which exceeds the length of the Earth's equator.
First experience working beyond the Polar Circle
This season, the "Noosphere" crossed the circle twice to conduct scientific research in Marguerite Bay. We remind you that our Antarctic station "Akademik Vernadsky" is located before the Antarctic Circle. Therefore, for Ukraine, this represents a significant expansion of the research zone.
Broader scientific program
From aboard the "Noosphere," our scientists, along with foreign colleagues, conducted comprehensive research on the impact of climate change on the waters of the Southern Ocean. They studied marine heatwaves, collected sediment samples to reconstruct geological history, and analyzed changes in marine fauna, specifically the interaction between microorganisms, phytoplankton, and zooplankton.
Record number of international partnerships
The vessel facilitated scientific and/or logistical cooperation between Ukraine and the largest number of countries across all seasons. These include Poland, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico. Notably, the "Noosphere" and "Vernadsky" served as platforms for the First Mexican Antarctic Expedition, significantly strengthening scientific ties between the nations. Furthermore, logistical collaborations allowed for the expansion of scientific research volumes without additional costs to the Ukrainian budget.
Traditionally, in the fifth season, the icebreaker facilitated the rotation of the 30th and 31st Ukrainian Antarctic Expeditions at "Vernadsky," as well as the delivery and return of the seasonal team.
According to the NASC, such a complex and intensive program was carried out by a crew of Ukrainian sailors led by captains from the Odesa region: Pavlo Panasyuk and Andriy Starish. They effectively handled all tasks, navigating around storms and charting new routes among icebergs.
"Noosphere" has become a symbol not only of Ukraine's openness to new international collaborations but also a place where global science is jointly created, aimed at protecting our planet's vulnerable ecosystems