The R/V Professor Khlustin, which is now being refitted for an expedition of the Russian Geographical Society, will set out for her maiden voyage in August-September 2012. The research vessel will continue the survey of consequences of the Fukushima-1 Nuclear Power Plant disaster and the expedition to the New Siberian Islands, the RGS President and Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"The Professor Khlustin will continue a comprehensive expedition to study the consequences of the Fukushima-1 accident, this will be the second phase of the expedition ... a year ago the ship was studying if there was a contamination with radioactive nuclides, and now will continue the survey," RIA Novosti quoted Mr. Shoigu as saying.
Russian Geographical Society was founded in August 6, 1845 in Saint Petersburg. Today the society includes 80 regional brunches. The RGS’s major offices are Promorsky and Moscow ones. In 2009, Russian Emergencies Ministry Sergei Shoigu was elected President of the Russian Geographical Society.