Akademik Ioffe icebreaker

Former name: One Ocean Navigator

Akademik Ioffe icebreaker last position

Akademik Ioffe icebreaker last location was at Baltic Sea (coordinates 54.69805 N / 20.45946 E) cruising en route to KALININGRAD. The AIS position was reported 1 month ago.

Current Position

Specifications of Akademik Ioffe icebreaker

Year of build1989  /  Age: 35
Flag state Russia
BuilderRauma-Repola Shipyard (Rauma, Finland)
ClassRussian diesel icebreaker (cruise ship)
Speed15 kn / 28 km/h / 17 mph
Length (LOA)117 m / 384 ft
Beam (width)18 m / 59 ft
Gross Tonnage6450 gt
Passengers127
Crew43
Decks4
Cabins48
Last Refurbishment2020
Sister-shipsAkademik Vavilov
Former namesOne Ocean Navigator
OwnerRussian Federation
OperatorRAS (Russian Academy of Sciences)

Akademik Ioffe icebreaker Review

Review of Akademik Ioffe icebreaker

MS Akademik Ioffe ("ледокол Академик Иоффе") is an icebreaking vessel owned by Russia's Academy of Sciences. Between 2009-2019, the vessel (branded as "One Ocean Navigator") was seasonally operated as a cruise ship under charter by One Ocean Expeditions (now defunct). One Ocean Navigator was last refurbished in 2011.

The vessel (IMO number 8507731) is Russia-flagged (MMSI 273413400) and registered in Kaliningrad.

One of the Russian icebreakers, Akademik Ioffe is among the world's largest and most powerful polar research vessels. Both Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Vavilov (sistership by design) were built in Finland for the Russian Academy of Science to serve its hydro-acoustic ocean research program.

Akademik Ioffe icebreaker ship

Akademik Ioffe ship's builder is Rauma Shipyard Finland. The vessel features an ice-strengthened hull. Public spaces are ideally suited for every need. A separate lounge and bar, as well as a library, are ideal places to relax while enjoying the Arctic scenery. A selection of documentaries and movies can be watched in the lounge. The dining room can host all passengers in a single seating. Other facilities include a presentation room, fitness and massage rooms, sauna, plunge pool, gift shop. Detailed information (review of each facility) is available by deck plan.

The ship carries all the equipment needed for exploration cruising, including Zodiac boats, kayaks, camping gear. The open-bridge policy allows passengers to the navigation room any time of the day.

Akademik Ioffe itinerary program offers Arctic expedition cruises to Spitsbergen and Svalbard. The vessel also cruises in Antarctica leaving from Ushuaia (Argentina) and visiting Drake Passage, Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island, South Georgia Island, the Falkland Islands UK.

Akademik Ioffe vessel details

Designed as a modern research marine vessel, the One Ocean Navigator ship (Akademik Ioffe) is comfortable and stabilized. Refits and refurbishments over the last years were done to enhance the expedition cruising experience. There is little if any noise from machinery or engines.

Most public spaces are located on a separate deck from most cabins, so there is little issue with guest-generated noises. Ship stabilization is gained through internal stabilizers and a built-in ballast trimming system.

Besides Ioffe, the list of other Russian icebreaking cruise ships also includes Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Kapitan Dranitsyn, Kapitan Khlebnikov and the nuclear ships 50 Let Pobedy and Yamal. Ioffe's sistership by design (and also fleetmate) is Akademik Sergey Vavilov.

The vessel has 1 dining room, Sauna, 1 swimming pool, no elevators, 1 helipad.

  • Max Draft: 6 m / 20 ft
  • DWT Deadweight tonnage: 2048 tonnes
  • GT Gross tonnage: 6344 tons
  • NT Net tonnage: 1903 tons
  • Endurance: 60 days (autonomous navigation/without bunkering)
  • Powerplant: 2x Pielstick diesel engines (model 6CHN 40/46, each 2,576 MW, or )
  • Propulsion: 2x Wartsila thrusters (bow and stern, each 0,6 MW / combined 1,2 MW), two shafts driving 2x CPPs/controllable pitch propellers

Note: In the case of poor AIS coverage, tracking the vessel's current location will be impossible. You can see CruiseMapper's list of all icebreakers and ice-breaking research ships in the "itinerary" section of our Icebreakers hub. All states and their fleets are listed there.

Akademik Ioffe icebreaker - user reviews and comments

Akademik Ioffe icebreaker ship related cruise news

Other RAS Russia cruise ships

    Akademik Ioffe icebreaker Wiki

    This icebreaking vessel is fitted with internal stabilizers. Its built-in ballast trimming system allows rapid transfer of ballast water between special trimming tanks, which additionally reduces the motion. This Russian-flagged vessel has all certifications required by Russia's and international maritime law and all required safety and emergency equipment - regularly inspected and tested. A passenger muster drill (lifeboat briefing) is conducted on embarkation day of each cruise to provide information on onboard emergency equipment and procedures. The equipment includes 2 fully-enclosed lifeboats (total capacity of 132 seats) and 4 liferafts (total capacity of 200 seats).

    Ship's powerplant includes 2 diesel engines. The propulsion system consists of twin propellers (contra-rotating), 1 bow-thruster and 1 stern-thruster. The ship additionally has built-in backup propulsion units.

    The Australia-based company "Eclipse Travel" announced a "solar eclipse cruise" to Antarctica in 2021 on MS Akademik Ioffe. The eclipse will occur on December 4 (Saturday). The 20-day itinerary was scheduled to depart from Ushuaia Argentina on November 23, 2021. Before the 2021 solar eclipse, the cruise visits Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, South Orkney Islands (on the eclipse day), continuing south to Antarctica with planned shore excursions led by marine biologists, ornithologists, naturalists resident photography professional. Cruise prices started from USD 16,800 pp (triple occupancy cabin rate), plus USD 1000 in onboard credit with Eclipse Travel bookings. Twin cabin prices started from USD 19,200 pp, suites - from USD 25,100 pp. Sea kayaking tours cost USD 800 pp.

    In early-2019, on the Ioffe icebreaker was installed a Science Research Lab - containerized laboratory via a partnership with Ocean Wise (international ocean conservation organization, non-profit established in June 2017). Branded as "One Ocean Lab", the specialized laboratory was first installed on RCGS Resolute. The 20-ft long container workroom is equipped with the latest equipment for conducting scientific research in remote coastal areas. Collected data provide unique information and allows researchers to analyze and develop procedures to protect natural ecosystems and habitats worldwide. Shipboard, the researchers engage with cruise passengers and explain their studies.

    In May 2019, the sisterships Ioffe and Vavilov were unexpectedly withdrawn from passenger service, thus cancelling the time-charter deal with One Ocean Expeditions. The charter deal was signed via Terragelida Ship Management Ltd (Cyprus-based vessel management company). The shipowner (Shirshov Institute of Oceanology) is Russia's main oceanic and climate research institution. Part of Russian Academy of Sciences, it was founded in 1946 and is Moscow-headquartered. According to shipowner's official statement, it has no contractual relationships with the vessel charterer (One Ocean Expeditions) thus not responsible for the cruise cancellations and not liable to the charterer.

    On April 17, 2020, the 2007-founded (now-defunct) Canadian cruise brand "One Ocean Expeditions" filed for bankruptcy, owning a total of CAD 29,5 million (~USD 21,15 M / ~EUR 19,52 M) in debts.