MOSCOW, June 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s Sedov barque celebrated Russia Day, in the port of Helsinki, Finland, the Murmansk Technical University press service said on Tuesday.

“The celebration was not hindered by either wet weather or strong wind. At 9:00 Moscow time, the ship’s Russian flag was raised and the national anthem began to play,” the statement said.

Russian maritime students and the crew lined up in a dress parade to mark the holiday. 

Russia Day has been celebrated since 1992. It was introduced to mark the official declaration of state sovereignty of the Russian Federal Soviet Socialist Republic on June 12, 1990.

The Sedov barque, the world's largest traditional sailing ship in operation, set off in late April on a tour of the northern seas, dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The vessel, carrying 103 maritime students, is expected to return to St. Petersburg on June 30 after the first stage of its expedition around Scandinavia. The first stage includes visits to five ports in three countries - Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The second stage of the expedition takes in the Norwegian city of Tromso, the Spitsbergen archipelago, and Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya and Novaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean.

The ship will return to Murmansk in mid-October.
MOSCOW, June 15 (RIA Novosti)