Ukrainian ship conducts scientific research for US in Southern Ocean for the first time

For the first time, the Ukrainian research vessel "Noosfera" is conducting scientific studies in the Southern Ocean for the US National Science Foundation.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine reports this.

The Ukrainian icebreaker has been working in the waters around the American Antarctic station "Palmer" for several days. Researchers from the United States are conducting their marine research program from aboard the "Noosfera."

^{Photo credits: Pavlo Panasiuk, Yurii Shepeta, and the "Palmer" station camera}

In honor of such cooperation, the flags of both countries were raised on both the vessel and the station.

It is worth noting that this is the first such mission not only for the "Noosfera" but also for the Ukrainian fleet in general.

"During the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, cooperation with other states in Antarctica is becoming increasingly relevant for us. This is not only our contribution to the development of world science and attracting additional funds from foreign partners but also "Antarctic diplomacy," since the icy continent is an important arena of world geopolitics," Yevhen Dykyi, director of the National Antarctic Research Center, noted.

By the end of this week, the "Noosfera" will wrap up its mission at "Palmer" and, with American colleagues onboard, head towards the Ukrainian Antarctic station "Akademik Vernadsky." There, discussions are planned to explore expanding cooperative efforts.

The Ministry of Education and Science highlighted that the "Noosfera" is currently in its fourth Antarctic season, marking the most internationally collaborative effort yet. Earlier, the Ukrainian vessel transported expeditions to the Polish Antarctic stations "Arctowski" and "Vernadsky."

Upcoming collaborations include partnerships with Spain and the Czech Republic and the implementation of two EU projects under "Horizon Europe."

For reference:

In mid-December, the icebreaker "Noosfera" embarked on its fourth Antarctic season, continuing its collaboration with the Polish Antarctic Program, as in all previous seasons.

The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine emphasized that this season is the most international of all the previous ones.