Centaurus-II – towards higher quality training in marine sciences

CENTAURUS-II Education projects Research projects TTRTTR Training through research Educational activities of the sailing catamaran Centaurus-II is based on the principle of "training through research". This way of education proved to be very effective. Students are involved in the real case at all stages. PROJECTS: TYPES

GEOGRAPHY Centaurus-II works in Baltic Sea ProperEastern Gulf of Finland

PARTNERS Large applied projects of the catamaran are realized in cooperation with major research and educational organizations:  Russian State Hydrometeorological University  Shirshov Institute of Oceanology  Russian Federal Agency for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring  Karpinsky All-Russian Geological Institute  Zoological Institute of RAS  Ministry for Emergency Situations of Russian Federation  Swedish Museum of Natural Science  Institute of Game and Fish in Finland

Program of the practice of the students of Russian State Hydrometeorological University and foreign universities  Typical works are:  marine meteorology  hydrological measurements

Program of the practice of the students of Russian State Hydrometeorological University and foreign universities  hydrobiological and hydrochemical sampling  bottom sediment sampling

Program of the practice of the students of Russian State Hydrometeorological University and foreign universities  ROV operations  groundtruthing (comparison between remotely sensed and in situ data)

 scientific diving Program of the practice of the students of Russian State Hydrometeorological University and foreign universities

 lectures onboard

Project concerned the problem of chemical munitions dumped in the Baltic Sea after the World War II near Bornholm The project is a result of cooperation with the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Federal Agency for hydrometeorology and environmental monitoring, the Karpinsky All-Russian Geological Institute, Ministry for Emergency Situations of Russian Federation and some other organizations. Students and professionals -hydrologists, geologists, biologists work onboard to collect up-to-date data about possible leakage and following distribution of dangerous contaminants. The project was carried out in cooperation with r/v “Professor Shtockman”

The main goal of the project is to continue and develop research Bornholm area through search and examination of the buried sources of agents using:  high-resolution magnetometer,  seismo-acoustic systems,  remotely operated underwater vehicles,  hydrological measurements,  sampling and analysis of water and soil. Project concerned the problem of chemical munitions dumped in the Baltic Sea after the World War II near Bornholm

Project of detecting of underwater wrecks in the eastern part of Gulf of Finland The project was carried out in cooperation with Shirshov Institute of Oceanology and scientific production association “Taifun”. The project was commissioned by Ministry for Emergency Situations of Russian Federation. The expedition of two research vessels Professor Shtokman and catamaran Centaurus-II worked in the Gulf of Finland from Primorsk to Sosnovy Bor, and from Kronstadt to the island of Gogland. 21 underwater objects were found with help of side-scan sonar and remotely operated underwater vehicle equipped with camera both used shipboard.

Program accounting of number of gray seals in the Russian part of Gulf of Finland The project is held by the Zoological Institute of RAS with financial support from the Swedish Museum of Natural Science and the Institute of game and fish in Finland. Seals are the largest and at the same time - the most vulnerable animals in the Baltic Sea. Their population in Russia's sector of the Baltic Sea has decreased to dangerous boundary below which should be already extinct.

Program accounting of number of gray seals in the Russian part of Gulf of Finland While zoologists count seals ornithologists study birds on islands of Gulf of Finland

Length, overall16,5 m Beam, overall10,0 m Freeboard2,0 m Draft : hulls0,5 m Draft : steering boards 1,3 m Draft : centerboards 0.5 m minimum 3.5 m maximum Mast height24 m Sail area, main148 sq m Engines 1  55 hp 1  40 hp Displacement kg Crew5 Berths16 Centaurus-II: technical data The small draft allows working in shallow areas at a minimum depth of 2 m. Small size of the vessel and modern navigation system provide position accuracy of 5-10 m. All members of the crew of the catamaran have higher education in hydrometeorology.

Participation in projects onboard the Centaurus-II is a variant of solving one of the most important tasks of training of future specialists. It helps students: -to develop their cognitive activity and creative abilities, -to acquire new knowledge, culture, experience. The highest level of cognitive activity of students is an active participation in team and independent scientific research. The catamaran has 12-year experience of educational and scientific activities. On the basis of the experience it’s possible to organize the training process more efficiently and develop new, interesting and meaningful projects, both nationwide and international.

Thank you!