Akademik Aleksandr Karpinskiy

The oceanographic research vessel specializes in: seismic surveys; onboard gravity survey; magnetic survey; geological sampling; has a multibeam echo sounder for hydrographic surveys (detailed topographic survey of the seabed - bathymetric surveys).
It is illegally engaged in oil and natural gas exploration in the Antarctic.
In January 2023, on its way to Antarctica, it docked in South Africa, which caused discontent among local activists due to Moscow's possible assistance in Antarctic mineral exploration and violation of the agreement banning mineral exploration.
The global environmental movement Extinction Rebellion believes that the vessel's activities are related to further mining in the region.
23.02.2024 USA imposed sanctions on the vessel for large-scale oil and gas exploration in the Antarctic Southern Ocean, a marine desert threatened by greenhouse gas emissions and extreme weather. Most of this research has been carried out through Cape Town since an international ban on mining was imposed in 1998.
The vessel is owned by the sanctioned russian company Polar Marine Geosurvey Expedition JSC, a subsidiary of Rosgeologia JSC, a russian state-owned diversified geological holding company.

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Cape Town (Republic of South Africa), Kaliningrad (russia), Sankt-Peterburg (russia), Montivideo (Uruguay), Svetly (russia)