Defense leader chairs flag-raising ceremony on vessel 889-Professor Gagarinsky

PANO - On December 1, the flag-raising ceremony for vessel 889-Professor Gagarinsky took place in Hai Phong city as part of the framework of the 36th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Coordinating Committee on the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center (ICC for short).

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Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chair of the Vietnam Sub-committee and Co-chair of the ICC, presided over the event.

Present at the ceremony was Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Chair of the Russian Sub-committee and Co-chair of the ICC Konstantin Ilyich Mogilevsky.

Addressing the event, Gen. Chien said that the vessel, arriving at Vietnam’s port on May 26, is commissioned into the Navy with hull number 889, and its Russian name Professor Gagarinsky is retained on deck as a tribute to the renowned Russian scientist, as well as an expression of the Vietnamese side’s gratitude for this highly meaningful gift from the Russian Federation.

He expressed thanks to the Government of the Russian Federation, the Russian Sub-committee, the Far Eastern Branch of the Pacific Oceanological Institute, and the Scientific Research Fleet, while commending the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center for their close coordination in the handover, reception, and putting into operation of the vessel under the ICC plan. He stressed that the ship is not only a symbol of friendship but also a source of motivation for scientists of the two countries to continue contributing to the shared interests of the two nations. In addition, the 889-Professor Gagarinsky will help enhance the scientific research capabilities of the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center and the Vietnam People’s Navy.

The Vietnamese defense chief expressed confidence that both sides will cooperate effectively in the vessel’s operation and research missions, generating valuable scientific outcomes and further enriching the long-standing cooperative tradition within the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center which is seen as an iconic model of the time-tested friendship between the two countries dated back to the Soviet era.

On behalf of the Ministry of National Defense and the Vietnam Sub-committee, he assigned tasks to the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center, the Vietnam People’s Navy, and Russian partners to develop annual joint research programs, ensure effective vessel operation and maintenance, and contribute actively to marine scientific research in line with the trust and expectations of both nations.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Konstantin Ilyich Mogilevsky affirmed that the transfer of the 889-Professor Gagarinsky would facilitate and expand the activities of the tropical center. He highlighted it as one of the important events in the bilateral cooperation agenda in 2025, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations.

He thanked Vietnam for retaining the vessel’s name and believed that the ship will continue to serve marine scientific research effectively, further deepening the two countries’ cooperation in science and technology.

Below are photos of the event.