A Guide to the Russian Academy of Sciences - University of Texas ...

The institute now produces some commercial products which are sold on the market, but
since it is part of the government (as part of the FAR EASTERN BRANCH RAS),
institute researchers do not enjoy much freedom of action. Director Elyakov said
that the institute's dream is to set up a company, independent of the government, to
develop and market a variety of commercial products based on their biotechnology
discoveries.
The Research Vessel Akademik Oparin
The WTEC team visited and inspected the Akademik Oparin in port in Vladivostok's inner
harbor (Fig. 1.8). The ship is operated by the PIBC. Built in Finland in 1985, it is
75 meters long and displaces 2,600 tons.
The Oparin was designed to support marine biosciences, specifically biomedical marine
research. It is one of a few research vessels in the world equipped for this type of
research work at sea. The vessel has 14 well-equipped laboratories, diver facilities,
and a large decompression chamber. The laboratories are spacious, and deck space
is available for mission-related vans. An A-frame on the stern is available for
handling oceanographic equipment. The ship is equipped with a vivarium to house
rodents used in research experiments. At least one nuclear magnetic resonator is
installed on board, and a photo lab is available for real time photographic support.
A central computer system provides the ability to process data quickly and send it
ashore to the institute by satellite link.
In recent years, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in the United States has
conducted collaborative work with PIBC personnel on board the ship. The PIBC is
actively looking for other foreign partners for joint scientific projects. Present
funding limitations for the FAR EASTERN BRANCH RAS mean that Oparin can
go to sea as a research ship only a few days a year.
When not involved in research, the ship is sometimes used to transport automobiles from
Japan to Vladivostok. In this way, the vessel can be kept operational in the present
time of greatly reduced funding support for seagoing research in Russia.
At this site visit, the panel was briefed by Dr. Vitaly G. Tarasov, acting director. The
Institute of Marine Biology was founded in 1967. The basic focus for research
activities is the near shore coastal areas of the Russian Far East. The goal of the
research is the balanced conservative use of the marine resources of the region and
the protection of these resources from environmental damage.
The IMB employs 450 people, 300 of whom are research staff. The remaining 140-150 are
engineers and technicians. The institute has 20 laboratories, four field stations, and
the Far East State Marine Reserve. Two small vessels support coastal projects.
Most of the scientists are divers.
Dr. Tarasov said that Peter the Great Bay has the greatest biodiversity in East Asia because
this area is influenced both by the warm Kuroshio and cold Oyashio currents. Work
is being done to study the effects of dredging in the Kuriles, the impact of past
nuclear waste dumping in the Sea of Okhotsk, an assessment of fish stocks in the
Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, and the biofouling of offshore platforms near
Sakhalin. In addition, environmental assessment work is being done in the river
delta area where North Korea, China, and Manchuria propose to build a major new
seaport and railhead.
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