Press Release 02/23/2016 Lithuania

At the present stage of human development, the World Ocean plays an important role in the life of the countries of the world, whose resources are crucial for the accelerated development of the world economy and is an important factor in geopolitics.

In accordance with the provisions of the Cooperation Agreement between the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Parties) and on the invitation of the Lithuanian side during the period from February 8-12, 2016, the consultative meetings of the representatives of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences with the aim of discussing the state and prospects of scientific cooperation in the field of marine sciences and technologies.

Ukrainian delegation (consisting of Academician-Secretary of the Earth Sciences Division of NAS of Ukraine, Academician of NAS of Ukraine Oleksandr M. Ponomarenko, Advisor to the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Valery M. Yeremeyev, Director of the State Enterprise "Scientific and Production Center for Marine Research and Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences Ukraine "Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor Alexander A. Shhiptsov, Advisor to the Director of the Center of the Candidate of Geological Sciences Serhiy V. Karabovich) was headed by the Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy G. Zagorodniy to Ukraine (Photo 1).

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Photo 1

Meeting of members of the Ukrainian delegation headed by the Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy G. Zagorodniy with leading scientists of Lithuania, headed by the president of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Professor Mr. Valdemaras Razumas.

The Lithuanian Party was represented by the leading Lithuanian scientists led by the president of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Professor Mr. Valdemaras Razumas.

During the meeting, it was noted that, guided by the norms of the above-mentioned Treaty, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences contribute to the development of direct links between the scientific institutions (centers) of Ukraine and Lithuania.

In particular, the Parties approved the scientific directions of cooperation in the field of marine sciences and technologies between the State Enterprise "Scientific and Production Center for Oceanographic Research and Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine" and the State institution "Klaipeda University" (in particular, the Maritime Open Access Center), the State Institute of Scientific Research - Center for the study of the nature of the Republic of Lithuania.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy G. Zagorodniy, on behalf of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, presented the address of the president of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences to Professor Valdemaras Razumsas in honor of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.

During their stay in Lithuania, members of the Ukrainian delegation held an advisory meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania, headed by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania Natalia Istomina (Photo 2).

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Photo 2

Meeting of the Ukrainian delegation with Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania Natalia Istomina.

The parties reached an understanding on the need to include research in the field of marine sciences and technologies in the list of priority scientific directions of the Cooperation Program in the field of science and technology for 2016-2020, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

As a result of the consultative meetings, the Parties agreed on a draft Memorandum of Understanding in the field of marine sciences and technologies between the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. In turn, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Valery M. Yeremeyev met with Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Volodymyr Yatsenkovsky and informed him about the results of consultations with Lithuanian scholars.

Then, members of the delegation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, at the invitation of the Lithuanian side, visited the Klaipėda Shipyard, the University of Klaipėda and the Liberian State Research Institute - Nature Research Center of the Republic of Lithuania (Photo 3).

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Photo 3

Meeting of the members of the Ukrainian delegation with the Director of the State Institute of Scientific Research - Professor Mr. Vitkas Buda, the Center for the Study of the Nature of the Republic of Lithuania.

During the acquaintance with Klaipėda shipyard Western Baltija Shipbuilding, the head of the plant, Mr. Arnoldas Sileika, said that the company is equipped with modern equipment and offers a wide range of services, including the development of concepts for the construction of "turnkey" vessels of different types: tugs, ships for delivery, research vessels, ferries, fishing trawlers, special floating drilling rigs and transformer platforms for the construction of renewable energy and other special purpose vehicles (Photo 4).

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Photo 4

The unique vessel (platform) "WindLift1", built on the Klaipėda Shipyard "Western Baltija Shipbuilding", is guided by four propeller-driven mechanisms, each of which has a capacity of 1100 kW. The vessel is equipped with an off-road crane with a carrying capacity of 500 tons, an auxiliary crane with a carrying capacity of 25 tons, a helicopter platform, mechanical workshops with the latest technological equipment and modern housing. More than 600 specialists from all over the world took part in the construction of the platform "WindLift1".

In order to discuss the prospects for solving current problems in the field of marine sciences and technologies, Ukrainian oceanologists held consultations meetings with the rector of Klaipeda University Professor Eimutis Juzeliūnas, Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Development Dr. Soulius Gulbinskas (Photo 5).

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Photo 5

Meeting of the members of the Ukrainian delegation with the rector of the University of Klaipeda, Professor Eimatus Juzeliūnas and Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Development Dr. Sauleus Gulbinskas.

Director of the Center for Open Access of Marine Research at Klaipėda University (hereinafter referred to as CMSC), Dr. Victoria Victoria, head of the Marine Ecosystem Laboratory Dr. Zita Gasiunayte, Head of the Fleet Laboratory and Expeditionary Research, Dr. Neriius Blajauskas, as well as leading scientists of the Marine Ecosystems Laboratory of the CMSC, Dr. Renata Pilehitite, Doctor Petras Zemlis and Dr. Alex Nariius (Photo 6).

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Photo 6

Meeting of members of the Ukrainian delegation with leading scientists of the Open Access Center for Marine Research at Klaipeda University.

Representatives of the Ukrainian Party got acquainted with the research base of the TsVDMD KU and the research pilot "Mentis" of Klaipeda University (Photo 7,8).

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Photo 7

Members of the Ukrainian delegation visited the research mine "Mentis" of Klaipėda University in the dock of the shipbuilding plant "Western Baltija Shipbuilding".

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Photo 8

Members of the Ukrainian delegation are the advisor to the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Valery M. Yeremeev, and Director of the State Enterprise "Scientific and Production Center for Marine Research and Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine", Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor Alexander A. Shhibtsov, inspect the engine room of the research vessel "Mentius »Klaipėda University.

The parties also discussed prospects for cooperation within the framework of:

  • UNESCO's International Oceanographic Data Exchange Program, as well as projects for the creation and upgrading of national oceanographic data banks;
  • international scientific and technical and other grants programs (in particular, within the framework of the EU program Horizon 2020 and the NATO program "Science for Peace and Security").

The parties stated that the preservation, use and development of scientific and technical potential, improvement of the system of training and retraining of specialists for maritime industries, and increasing the level of functioning of the research fleet are the most important factors for realization of the national interests of the Republic of Lithuania and Ukraine in the field of maritime activity.

At the end of the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Lithuania, Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy G. Zagorodniy handed memorial souvenirs to the Lithuanian scientists (Photo 9, 10).

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Photo 9

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, the vice-president of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy G. Zagorodniy presents a commemorative souvenir to the president of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Professor Valdemaras Razumsas.

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Photo 10

Presentation to the President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Professor Valdemaras Razumsas, a greeting address in honor of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences from the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Borys E. Paton.