Russia to transfer research vessel to Vietnam

The governments of Russia and Vietnam have formally entered into an agreement on the transfer of a research vessel to the joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center (Tropcenter).

The agreement signed on Tuesday, January 14, by officials of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence calls for the transfer of the research vessel Professor Gagarinskiy to support Tropcenter's marine science activities in Vietnamese waters.

The actual transfer of the vessel is scheduled for the spring of 2025. The transfer was first announced in June 2024 during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Vietnam.

Built in 1987, Professor Gagarinskiy belongs to the National Operator of the Research Fleet, a vessel operating sub-agency of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education. It is one of six vessels currently operated by the organisation.

The vessel has three laboratories, a crane with a lifting capacity of 900 kg, and accommodation for 23 crewmembers and up to 17 scientific personnel.