30 Vietnamese, Russian scientists conduct survey of East Vietnam Sea aboard Russia’s Akademik Oparin

The Institute of Oceanography under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology on Thursday welcomed the Russian research vessel Akademik Oparin.

This marks the ninth collaborative survey conducted by scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Russian Academy of Sciences in Vietnam's southern waters.

During the four-week project, the research team will collect field samples from pre-identified coastal and deep-sea areas.

Associate Professor Dr. Dao Viet Ha, director of the Institute of Oceanography, emphasized that this ninth joint expedition further strengthens the collaborative research efforts between Vietnamese and Russian scientists, as well as between the two academies.

"We clearly recognize the crucial role of international cooperation in enhancing the research capabilities and operations of the Institute of Oceanography and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in general.

"We hope that scientists from both countries will successfully complete this expedition and obtain valuable scientific results," said Ha.

The current expedition aims to update and expand data on biodiversity, environmental quality, and marine biological resources. It also involves collecting marine organism and environmental samples for biochemical, microbiological research, and evaluating the potential of marine-derived bioactive compounds.

Research teams will focus on analyzing factors related to marine pollution, including the presence and accumulation of microplastics and persistent organic pollutants. They will also work on developing remote sensing data to support environmental monitoring and aquaculture.

The Akademik Oparin is a Russian specialized research vessels dedicated to studying marine biochemistry and biodiversity.

The vessel is 75.5 meters long and boasts a displacement of 2,441 metric tons. It is equipped for long-duration sea voyages and houses five laboratories.

The vessel is also fitted with advanced equipment for deep-sea sampling and underwater exploration.