Akademik Fedorov

Akademik Fedorov made news on 1 August 2007, when it sailed in the path of an icebreaker on the way to the North Pole as part of Russia's efforts to lay claim to the sea bed beneath the North Pole.

On 2 August 2007, Akademik Fedorov sailed with 100 scientists and researchers and two deep sea mini-submarines to the North Pole where the scientists were dispatched to a depth of more than 13,200 feet (4,000 m) where they dropped a titanium capsule containing a Russian flag.

While the dropping of the flag was a symbolic gesture reminiscent of the United States of America's planting of an American flag on the surface of the moon, the act does not guarantee Russian rights to extract oil and gas from the sea bed.

Accordingly, scientists aboard Akademik Fedorov were searching for evidence that a 1,240-mile (2,000 km) underwater mountain range, the Lomonosov Ridge, which extends through the north polar region, is actually a geologic extension of Russia, thus allowing Russia to lay claim to the region under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Denmark contends that the Lomonosov Ridge is a geologic extension of Greenland, a Danish territory, whereas Canada claims it is an extension of Ellesmere Island. The Danish and Canadian governments are expected to put forth their own scientific efforts to show that the Lomonosov Ridge is not part of Russia.

Both the United States and Canada also maintain oil and gas rights within the region.

• Akademik Federov Canyon