The Institute of Oceanology was established on January 31, 1946 by a decree of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences, which prescribed "conducting research on the ocean and the seas based on the idea of the unity of physical, chemical, biological and geological processes occurring in the seas and oceans." The decision was signed by the President of the USSR Academy of Sciences S.I. Vavilov and prepared by academician P.P. Shirshov and Professor V.G. Bogorov.

The first director of the Institute of Oceanology was Academician P.P. Shirshov. Together with him, the famous scientists  took an active part in the creation and establishment of a new scientific center: L.A. Zenkevich, V.G. Bogorov, S.V. Bruevich, A.D. Dobrovolsky, P.L. Bezrukov, I.D. Papanin, V.B. Shtokman and others.

Read more: History of the Institute of Oceanology