Russian ship off to Antarctica

Press, 18 January 1986, Page 9

Russian ship off to Antarctica

Three days of rest and recreation ended for the crew and scientists of a Russian research vessel when she left Lyttelton for the Antarctic yesterday. The Professor Viese is an oceanographic research vessel which has sailed to the Antarctic each year since 1974. She had aboard on each voyage, about 80 crew and up to 50 scientists, said the leader of the marine branch of the thirty-first Soviet Antarctic expedition, Mr Sergey M. Pryamikov. The vessel also does hydrographic work in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

Mr Pryamikov said the Professor Viese had left Leningrad on November 12.

It sailed to the Antarctic and visited Soviet hydrographic stations before voyaging to Montevideo, in Uruguay, and from there on to New Zealand.

During the voyage, the ship encountered some very thick areas of ice and a particularly bad storm, he said.

- As a result, those aboard had looked forward to arriving at Lyttelton and resting. This is the second visit the Professor Viese has made to Lyttelton. She called previously in 1981. The 19-year-old icestrengthened vessel, which is sailed by the Soviet hydrometeorological service, was named after a famous Russian oceanographer, said Mr Pryamikov. The 5497-tonne vessel was expected to return to the Soviet Union about the end of April. Until then, she will continue research work in the southern oceans and the Antarctic.

While at sea, those aboard keep fit by jogging, and playing volleyball and table tennis.

They maintain contact with the Soviet Union by radio and satellite. . The Professor Viese arrived at Lyttelton on Tuesday and sailed, yesterday afternoon.

Her sister ship, the Professor Zubov, is expected in port next month.