GRIGORIY MIKHEYEV

The vessel is designed to conduct comprehensive hydrographic surveys and maintain navigational equipment in the waters of ports and approach channels along the Northern Sea Route, install and service floating aids to navigation and coastal markers, and deliver shore-based navigational and radio-technical aids (SNT) and associated equipment for specialists (Project 5776).
It is owned by the sanctioned russian FSUE Hydrographic Enterprise (ФГУП "Гидрографическое предприятие"), which is part of the Rosatom State Corporation (ГК "Росатом").
FSUE Hydrographic Enterprise is the owner and operator of one of the largest dredging fleets in russia and the only organisation in the russian federation that develops and provides navigational information for the Northern Sea Route — primarily for large oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers — covering the most challenging areas and routes in terms of navigation. The enterprise has carried out dredging operations for several major energy projects in russia, including the Vostok oil project.
In May 2023, the United States imposed sanctions on four research vessels of FSUE Hydrographic Enterprise, including the vessel IMO 8909331, as part of restrictions targeting entities involved in expanding the russian federation’s future electricity production and export capabilities in strategic sectors.