Russia’s governmental port property management agency Rosmorport, the Roscongress Foundation, and the Association for the Revival of Maritime Training Sailing Ship Traditions signed an agreement on the sidelines of the Transport Week 2021 Forum to work together on a project involving the circumnavigation of the MIR SAILING THE GLOBE training sailing ship in 2022–2023.
The circumnavigation of MIR is dedicated to the 78th anniversary of victory in World War II and the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the birth of Russian Emperor Peter the Great and is also part of preparations for the celebration of World Maritime Day in Russia. The project will help strengthen Russia’s international standing and prestige, become a symbol of peace and an expression of goodwill, and also enhance the prestige of maritime professions.
“The MIR sailing ship is the world’s fastest sailing vessel of its class. It is operated by Rosmorport and has been successfully fulfilling tasks related to the training of cadets for many years. The organizing committee for the circumnavigation is headed by Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev. For the Roscongress Foundation, this is an educational project with a global reach. Along with our Partners, we will make every effort to ensure that absolutely everyone is aware of how the sailing is going,” Roscongress Foundation Deputy CEO and Director of the Eastern Economic Forum Igor Pavlov said.
The SAILING THE GLOBE expedition will commence in June 2022 from the historic Lesnaya harbour of Kronshtadt as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum celebrates its 25th anniversary, and the ship will return to St. Petersburg exactly one year later during the next SPIEF in June 2023. Over the course of the year, the vessel will traverse the Northern Sea Route, cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and visit major Russian seaports and the ports of 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, and Western and Northern Europe. The ship will carry cadets from leading Russian maritime universities, guests, media representatives, and travellers from different countries.
“MIR is a unique sailing ship. It has won numerous sailing competitions and been recognized as the fastest frigate in the world. It has recorded a maximum sailing speed of 21 knots, or 38.9 km/h. However, this is the first time that it will travel around the world. We’re confident that this voyage will be successful, safe, and organized at a high level. The ship’s route is currently being planned. MIR is expected to visit major Russian seaports and ports in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, and Western and Northern Europe,” Rosmorport Fleet Deputy General Director Vasily Strugov said.
The organizations signed the trilateral agreement to establish partnerships and jointly participate in a wide range of activities during MIR’s circumnavigation. They will join forces to organize the circumnavigation at the highest level, increase awareness about the project among a wide range of people, including abroad, and maximize the effect of events during the circumnavigation both in Russia and around the world.
The MIR training sailing ship was built in 1987 and has served as a sailing training base for students of Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping for 34 years. The ship has frequently taken part in major international regattas and sailing festivals and won 20 sailing competitions, but this will mark its first round-the-world voyage. Rosmorport has operated the vessel since 2014.
