On March 4, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa HE Mikhail Petrakov and Consul General of Russia in Cape Town Roman Ambarov met with senior officials of "Admiral Vladimirsky" research vessel - Head of the expedition Dmitry Puntus and Master of the vessel Alexander Pyshkin. They were presented with an address by Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko.

On the same day Russian officials together with senior South African Navy officials gathered at the naval cemetery in Simon’s Town for a solemn ceremony of wreath laying at the graves of Russian sailors buried there at various times in the course of the 19th century. The diplomatic party was represented by Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa HE Mikhail Petrakov, Consul General of Russia in Cape Town Roman Ambarov and other senior Russian diplomats. However, this particular visit to the garden of remembrance, the burial place of Russian seamen, was set off by the presence of mariners from the Russian oceanographic research vessel "Admiral Vladimirsky" - Head of the expedition Dmitry Puntus, Master of the vessel Alexander Pyshkin and other members of the crew. A Russian Orthodox divine service in memory of the sailors who perished so far from home was conducted by the rector of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg Priest Daniel Lugovoi and Priest of "Admiral Vladimirsky" vessel Oleg Artemov.

On March 5, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa HE Mikhail Petrakov visits oceanographic research vessel "Admiral Vladimirsky".

Russian research vessels "Akademik Fyodorov" and "Akademik Alexander Karpinsky" also returned from Antarctica and came for a short stay to Cape Town.