Far-Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute (FERHRI) is the only institute in Russia that studies hydrometeorological processes and environment of the Far Eastern seas and Pacific Ocean.

FERHRI specialization:
FERHRI carries out extensive researches in the field of meteorology, oceanography, hydrology of continental waters, climate and ecology in the Russian Far east and Eastern Siberia. Much attention is paid to the projects of developing oil-gas fields on Sakhalin shelf. 

Main research directions of FERHRI: 

• Hydrometeorology
  Hydrometeorological researches are made possible thanks to the highly skilled specialists, archives of hydrometeorological data, engineering methods and computer programs for calculating hydrometeorological environmental parameters, including unique characteristics. FERHRI has the most complete and reliable observations of the marine environment from 1930s. Regional Oceanographic Data Center (RODC) was established in FERHRI. RODC is the branch of the World Data Center. In the database of RODC referring to Sakhalin shelf there is data of 35 hydrometeorological stations, of about 30000 deep-water oceanographic stations, data from voluntary observing ships as well as data about currents and other information.
• Ecological Monitoring
  In 1980s FERHRI specialists began comprehensive oceanographic, hydrochemical, hydrobiological and geochemical studies along northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island in relation to possible oil and gas extraction in the region. Specialized observations were carried out at Piltun-Astokh, Chaivo, Arkutun, Lunski, Kirin blocks and other oil-gas fields. In 1998 full-scale ecological monitoring at Piltun-Astokh field was started according to the project Sakhalin II. Scope of work includes analysis of trace metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in sea water and bottom sediments, measurements of suspended solids, dissolved oxygen and nutrients, observations of phyto-, ichtio-, zooplankton and benthos and visual observations of birds and mammals. Results of these investigations allow to estimate the effect of drilling and oil extraction on marine ecosystems.
• Marine expeditions
  Among the research vessels of FERHRI there are ocean-going ships supplied with modern radionavigational equipment, measuring and recording instruments, computer engineering techniques and systems receiving and processing data from satellites. Research vessels are staffed with highly skilled specialists and scientific personnel. All his allows to conduct comprehensive hydrological, hydrochemical, aerological, meteorological, biological observations, as well as engineering studies in the sea and in the ocean, on the shelf and in the deep waters, in Arctic and tropical zone of the World Ocean. FERHRI has licenses for the main kinds of observations, research vessels are certified according to international conventions, and specialists have some experience working with researchers from United States, Japan, Republic of Korea, Canada, Vietnam, India, China and DPRK.

Projects:

• Licenses: № R/96/0001/300/D, № 65M/97/0008/006/L, № 65M/97/0009/020L, SHA № 001291 Engineering calculations, modelling, working out standard documents and implementation of EIA are made by the Department of Engineering Oceanology (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
  At a high level FERHRI has implemented EIA for Sakhalin II and Sakhalin III projects and worked out some EIA issues in Sakhalin I project. In 1998 EIA projects made by FERHRI for the first oil-extracting platform Molikpaq and appraisal drilling according to Sakhalin II project were approved by the State ecological expert examination. In particular, EIA consists of the modelling oil slick transport (trajectory model for Sakhalin shelf conditions). This model has got positive resolutions of ecological expert examination and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
• Modeling pollutants transport and sedimentation
  Modeling pollutants transport and sedimentation is the modelling in four dimensions. This model was approved in Russian and international projects on Sakhalin shelf development and has got positive resolutions of ecological expert examination and Russian authorized bodies.
• Calculating Maximal Permissible Emission (MPE)
  Calculating maximal Permissible Emission (MPE) and Maximal Permissible Discharge (MPD) is implemented according to Russian standards with the help of certified computer software. For calculating MPD FERHRI uses its own unique certified program "MPD - sea 3.2" (GOST № RU.ME20.H00082).