ARKHANGELSK, October 19 /TASS/. A Russian scientific vessel, The Academician Treshnikov, will set out on its Antarctic voyage from the Russian northern port of Arkhangelsk on Wednesday, the press service of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, the ship’s owner, said.

It will be the first such expedition, according to the press service. "It is the first round-the world scientific expedition, which will go round the Antarctic to visit the main sub-Antarctic islands," the institute’s press service said. They explained that it was extremely hard for one organization or even a country to carry out this project. A special technical committee, comprising representatives of organizations responsible for the Antarctic programs of Australia, Britain, France and South Africa, has been set up.

The expedition departs from Bremerhafen on November 19. The main stage of the 3-months Antarctic voyage will start at Cape Town port on December 20.