The ship was built in Finland in 1983 and is now converted to passenger duties for the expedition cruise market.

Professor Molchanov is an Akademik Shuleykin-class ice-strengthened vessel, built in Finland for the Soviet Union.

Launched on 28 December 1982, she was named after Pavel Molchanov, radiosonde inventor, on his 90th anniversary.

She made 34 research cruises as a Soviet research vessel,[2] including three global hydrology expeditions held by Murmansk Hydrometeorological Administration:[3] Since 2012, annual expeditions have been conducted on board the ship within the framework of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University Floating University project.

The public areas consist of a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary, and sauna.