To the 100th anniversary of the research vessel «Persey» (1922-2022)

Abstract

A hundred years ago, on 7 November 1922, the Soviet flag was raised on the first Soviet marine research vessel «Persey». The creation of «Persey» and its efficient operation in the following years were a continuation of the research work, which was initiated by the activities during the Murmansk research and fishing cruise in the Barents Sea on board the vessel «Andrei Pervozvanny». The tough economic and political environment in Russia in the early 1920s required an undelayed development of the Barents Sea. For this special purpose, a marine institute was established to carry out comprehensive studies on fisheries. The construction of the vessel, its operation, the importance of research activities are entire sections in the history of the Russian fisheries science. «Persey» was operated for 18 years and the vessel was on 90 research cruises in the White, Barents, Kara and Greenland Seas. A large number of scientists participated in research cruises onboard «Perseus »; those cruises were a training ground for future academicians, heads of large scientific institutions and managers in science. The seven-star blue flag that was carried on research cruises was raised on the vessel on 1 February, 1923. Afterwards, this logotype became the symbol for the Russian fisheries science. In memory of their legendary predecessor, the research vessels were called «Persey 2» and «Persey III». We really hope that more research vessels with the famous seven-star flag onboard will operate in the Barents Sea.