THE SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH VESSEL VITIAZ OF THE USSR AS

The vessel made 65 scientific-research expeditions, covered approximately 800 000 miles and made 7 942 scientific stations. The depth of the Mariana Trench was measured aboard it (11 022 m) and new type of animals was discovered – pogonophorae. The school of national oceanology was formed aboard the Vitiaz; scientists from 50 Soviet research institutes and from 20 institutes all over the world participated in the expeditions. The vessel took part in the International Geophysical year and other big international projects. The ship visited 100 ports and 49 countries. Presidents and prime-ministers, ambassadors and cultural workers, famous scientists such as Thor Heyerdahl and Jacques-Yves Cousteau were guests of the Vitiaz.

Since the Vitiaz had made a significant contribution to the World ocean exploration it was decided to create a museum aboard it. The Museum of the World ocean started from the Vitiaz and nowadays it is still our main object, a basis of the historical fleet Embankment. It has got the biggest displacement in the world as a scientific-research ship which became a museum.

Characteristics

The Vitiaz is a single-rotor double-deck motor ship. It has got a straight raked stem, a sharp flare and a cruiser stern.

The main figures:
Length – 109.44 m;
Width – 14.56 m;
Midship length  – 8.75 m;
Draught – 5.86 m;
Displacement – 5 710 t;
Autonomous sailing – 18 500 miles;
Engine power – 3000 hp;
Speed - 14 knots;
Working depth for deep-anchoring, trawling of bottom, tests, etc. – 11 000 m;
Crew - 66 persons;
Research staff - 70 persons.