Joint Russia-Brazil Maritime Expedition Concludes After Circumnavigating Earth to Mark BRICS Anniversary
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the ambitious international sailing journey, codenamed ‘Fraternity 2025–2026,’ has reached its culmination, returning to the Brazilian port of Salvador where the year-long global voyage originated.
Russian Captain Sergei Shcherbakov and Brazilian Captain Alexio Belo, along with their crew, are set to officially finalize their extensive itinerary on February 28. The voyage was specifically planned to coincide with the observance of the 20th anniversary of the BRICS bloc. Captain Shcherbakov provided insights into the unique expedition across both southern and northern waters in an interview with TV BRICS.
The crew aboard the sailing vessel ‘Fraternidade’—meaning ‘Fraternity’ in Portuguese—covered approximately 24,000 nautical miles, equivalent to 45,000 kilometers. Notably, they successfully completed a full circumnavigation of the Earth via the Northern Sea Route without the assistance of an icebreaker escort, traversing from the northernmost point of Eurasia to the southernmost tip of South America.
This marks the third time Captain Shcherbakov, who holds the honorary title of Master of Sports of the Russian Federation, has completed this route, while Alexio Belo, the owner of the Fraternidade, navigated this path for the first time. Shcherbakov noted that Belo’s primary objective was passing through Russia’s northern latitudes, adding that Belo has previously completed five circumnavigations, three of which were solo attempts.
Shcherbakov detailed a critical milestone: “We reached Cape Chelyuskin on August 7, and no other sailing vessel had reached this point before us. This was the earliest recorded transit of the northernmost point of the landmass.” He explained that the route planning meticulously analyzed natural conditions and ice conditions over the preceding 12 years, a plan fortunately complemented by favorable weather.
The crew anchored briefly at Cape Chelyuskin, where they were greeted by border service personnel and recorded two commemorative notes in both Russian and Portuguese in the logbook. The group then proceeded to Bennett Island, surveying the area using drones. Citing the local wildlife dangers, Shcherbakov stated that the polar bear is the region’s most dangerous predator, viewing humans as part of its food chain. Consequently, he confirmed, “We never disembarked in these areas; all observations were conducted via drone.” He described Bennett Island and the mythical Sannikov Land as resembling a fantasy, suggesting that human footsteps might only grace that soil once every three decades.
The most significant moments of the journey are slated for release in a documentary film, with Alexio Belo compiling the footage. Furthermore, Sergei Shcherbakov has prepared a comprehensive report detailing the Northern Sea Route and the conditions in the northern regions for the Russian Geographical Society. Shcherbakov also mentioned fulfilling an additional mandate: developing proposals for expanding marine tourism using recreational boats along the Northern Sea Route, which included assessing the region’s tourism and infrastructure potential.
These specialized recommendations have been forwarded to the Russian Geographical Society. The expedition members expressed deep appreciation for the warm receptions received in the Russian northern cities where they made stops. Following the completion of the Northern Sea Route segment, Alexio Belo sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, thanking him for the organized transit system for boats and the generous hospitality.
In Tiksi, Russia’s northernmost port, a three-page reception program included visits to museums, landmarks, a concert at the House of Culture, and local banquets. A football match was even organized between the Yakutia team and the Brazilian crew team, which Shcherbakov wryly noted, was ultimately won by friendship.
Shcherbakov also announced his intention to follow the Brazilian captain’s example by sending a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to convey gratitude for Brazil’s hospitality. The Fraternidade began its journey on April 12, 2025, with an enthusiastic send-off from the Brazilians, and received an equally warm welcome upon its return. This expedition was organized not only for the 20th anniversary of BRICS’ establishment but also in anticipation of the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Brazil, which will be celebrated in 2028.
