The "Grigoriy Mikheev" was built in Finland in 1990 for the Hydrographic Institute of St. Petersburg as an ice strengthened research ship. However with the breakdown of the Soviet Union she was converted into an expedition cruise vessel in the Netherlands and placed under long tern charter contract by Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel now has a 20 man Russian crew and caters for between 36 and 46 passengers who all have access to the large bridge and the use of the vessels zodiacs. The photo above shows the "Grigoriy Mikheev" arriving in Ushuaia on 7th January, 2003.

Note: This cover is backstamped at Stanley 27th January, 2003.

The picture at right shows the vessel in heavy Antarctic conditions during her Peninsula expedition.