The research vessel is exploited jointly by Sea Fisheries Institute in Gdynia and Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Gdynia Branch. The vessel's owner is the Sea Fisheries Institute in Gdynia.

Vessel statistics:

Vessel's purpose:
The main tasks of the R/V BALTICA includes:

• Oceanographic, biological and fishing research is carried out from the vessel on the Baltic Sea with the aim of determining catch possibilities and the ecological conditions which have an influence on resources. These investigations are directly related to international biological programs of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and contracts from the International Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission (IBSFC):
• Determining the influence of marine environment dynamics on the biological production and recruitment of exploitable species;
• Determining the state of living resources and changes in them as a basis for shaping principles for their conservation and rational exploitation as well as to make catch size prognoses;
• Determining ecological factors, which influence the behavior of sea organisms.
• Research on the functioning of the Baltic ecosystem, carried out within the framework of international projects under the auspices of the ICES, bilateral co-operation with Baltic states and projects financed by the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research,
• Environmental research of the Baltic Sea within the framework of both Polish and international programs in the fields of oceanography, marine atmosphere, radioactive substances and pollution as required by the Helsinki Commission HELCOM - BMP, EGAP, MORS as well as the National Oceanographic Services (Krajowa Służba Oceanograficzna).

Research areas and equipment aboard the vessel:

• Biology laboratory (25m²),
• Chemical laboratory (20m²),
• Ichthyology laboratory (18m²),
• Physics laboratory (12m²),
• Meteorology cabin,
• Automated meteorology station MILOS-500,
• Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler,
• Hydroacoustic station,
• Computer network to co-ordinate sampling procedures and to register and analyze sampling data,
• Area for taking samples from the side port and winches,
• 7 on-deck stations for sampling and fishing equipped with a line-cable hydrographic elevator and trawl,
• rotating stern frame (3 tons),
• portable state-of-the-art. research and sampling laboratory and on-deck equipment for physical, chemical, biological and meteorological research and for estimating resources and catch techniques.