Both vessels are rather aged: Ekolog was commissioned in 1988, and Poseidon in 1972. On the one hand, their age is considerable and time has come for major overhaul. On the other hand, experts say they still have the capacity to serve effectively for many years to come.
To learn about the current status of the vessels and when they are expected back in service, read out interview with Aleksey Nikolayevsky, Assistant to KarRC RAS Director General, and Valery Korobko, Chief Specialist of the KarRC RAS Fleet Office.
-- Aleksey Aleksandrovich, what is the current condition of the vessels?
-- The R/V Ekolog was placed into repair in December 2023 in view of the upcoming five-yearly check for navigation class attestation. The Onega Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant was selected as the contractor through a competitive tender. The vessel was lifted onto the slipway and stayed there waiting for funding for the repair work until spring 2024. In May 2024, the KarRC RAS received a targeted subsidy for a major overhaul of the R/V Ekolog in connection with its periodic survey by the Russian Classification Society. The scope of work included diagnostics and repair of the hull, assemblies, units, the propeller-rudder complex, and the ship’s other systems.
Ekolog research vessel
However, in the fall of 2024, during the final stage of Ekolog's repair, while preparing for start-up tests of the main engine, a significant oil leak was detected during the oil flushing of the engine system. To detect the causes, the engine was completely disassembled, revealing hidden defects – the upper bearing strap was broken in two, the bearing lining was also destroyed and molten away, and the crankshaft journal had peening marks and scoring.
The Onega Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant was willing to do the engine repair, but fixing the detected defects was beyond the scope of the contract, and additional funding could not be secured at that time.
-- Valery Vladimirovich, why was the main engine malfunction discovered only after the scheduled repair was nearly complete? What caused the breakdown?
-- Based on the accumulated operating hours – 22,833 by the time of the major overhaul – Ekolog was due for a so-called "intermediate repair" of the main engine. The checklist of the work required within such repair does not include a full engine disassembly with the removal of the frame (main) bearings, so the contractor did not perform such full disassembly. That is why these hidden defects were not detected at an early stage.
During a survey of the engine bedplate and crankshaft for defects, carried out by a third-party organization in December 2025, experts concluded that the defects identified in the bedplate and crankshaft were long-term in nature and had emerged during the vessel's operation prior to the start of repair. Presumably, this was due to a clogged oil passage. According to the specialists, the engine could have been operating with such defects for a long period of time – up to several months before the repair began.
It should also be noted that specialists from the Onega Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant, the Russian Classification Society, and the third-party organization from which independent opinion had been requested all agreed that the most likely cause of the hidden defect was substandard maintenance of the main engine by Ekolog's mechanics, specifically poor monitoring of the oil condition.
-- Aleksey Aleksandrovich, what followed after the cause of the malfunction had been identified?
-- The management of the KarRC RAS spent considerable time and effort to prove to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of Russia that there were no violations on the part of the Contractor, and that additional budget funding was necessary to complete the unfinished repair, as fixing the identified hidden defects requires a major overhaul of the main engine, including replacement of its major components. Budget approval for completing the repair of the R/V Ekolog was only secured in December 2025, which accounts for the vessel's prolonged period of inactivity.
To date, the KarRC RAS has contracted the Medvezhyegorsk Repair and Operational Base LLC for repairing the R/V Ekolog, which includes a major overhaul of the main engine, to prepare for the survey by the Russian Classification Society. By now, the engine has already been repaired; it must now be tested, and a number of other tasks remain to be completed, such as verification and calibration of instruments, and addressing several other issues. We expect the vessel to be brought back into service September this year. Since the vessel can operate until December, there is a chance of conducting a couple of expeditions this year.
Poseidon research vessel
-- Aleksey Aleksandrovich, am I right that the situation with the second vessel, Poseidon, is clearer?
- Yes, we have signed a contract for the major overhaul of the R/V Poseidon within the scope required for its regular survey by the Russian Classification Society. The vessel went into repair June 30, 2026, with the completion deadline under the contract set for October 2026. The work is being done by Module-P Plus LLC, and so far everything is proceeding as planned. The scope of work includes diagnostics and repair of the hull, assemblies, units, the propeller-rudder complex, and the ship’s other systems. Following the successful completion of the repairs this fall, the vessel is also going to be used for the Centre's expeditions.
-- Valery Vladimirovich, are these repairs a temporary or a long-term solution?
-- Both vessels are well built, with a substantial margin of strength. In the future, it may be necessary to replace the engines, various systems, and large units in the future, but Ekolog and Poseidon will serve our scientists for decades to come.
As for maintenance and repair, their schedule is regulated by the Rules for Surveying Ships in Operation (RSSO) – major overhauls are performed in connection with five-yearly surveys by the Russian Classification Society. During standby in winter, between-season maintenance is carried out as needed.
Photos: Igor Georgievsky
