Estonian ketch the Admiral Bellingshausen and her crew are starting preparations off the coast of Saaremaa, ahead of a planned voyage to the Arctic, starting later this month. The Bellingshausen had already visited Antarctica, arriving in early 2020, though a planned pole-to-pole voyage following that was stymied by the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic in March last year.
The Bellingshausen's Captain, Priit Kuusk, told ETV news show "Aktuaalne kaamera" (AK) Saturday that the present plans would see the ship depart Sillamäe on May 25 for the north, returning in September.
Kuusk and the crew had taken the vessel out for a shakedown, taking her from Nasva harbor to Roomassaare harbor, both in Saaremaa, ahead of the main voyage.