On 16 July 2014, a Russian Hydrometeorological Service vessel embarked on a journey to the Arctic Region. RSCC has installed a maritime VSAT on board to provide the usual communications services to the researchers who are out to obtain new data on the hydrometeorological and ice conditions in Arctic seas. 

RSCC, in partnership with ООО Isatel, a member of the Intersputnik Holding international group, have put satellite-supported broadband equipment on board the research/survey vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov, operated by Russian Hydrometeorological Service (Roshydromet). The deployed communications complex provides access for the crew and the Arctic expedition researchers to a state-of-the-art package of information & communications services when on high seas. 

RSCC and ООО Isatel won the award of a contract for delivery, commissioning and start-up and satellite communications services for the research/survey vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov. The tender was organized in June 2014 by the Arctic & Antarctic Scientific Research Institute, which is a part of the Roshydromet.  

Under the contract, within a short time, a maritime VSAT broadband satellite communications system was deployed on board the Akademik Tryoshnikov, complete with a maritime stabilized SeaTel antenna and the Somatom control complex. RSCC specialists and their partners have put the system to a test mode for the Saint-Petersburg-Archangel leg of the journey.  

The project is part of the RSCC/Roshydromet cooperation program aimed at furthering the development of communications systems on maritime facilities of the weather agency. The current solution is based on maritime VSAT, affording the user on board a wide range of cutting-edge digital communications services. 

The purpose of the Akademik Tryoshnikov 2014 expedition is to obtain new data on the hydrometeorological and ice conditions in the Kara, Laptev and Chukotka seas/ The effort is necessary for ensuring safe maritime activities on the Arctic continental plate. The vessel will conduct research during the journey in the polar latitudes. Thanks to the RSCC broadband satellite communications system the crew and researchers will have the ability to use the broadband channel for research and personal purposes and stay on-line.

On 29 July 2014 the Akademik Tryoshnikov will set sail from Archangel on its first research mission with the broadband satellite communications system on board. Their expedition will last 82 days. They are scheduled to return to Saint-Petersburg on 10 October 2014.