A multipurpose expedition on the Ivan Petrov research ship was carried out between June 27 and July 21. Several research projects were conducted by the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Arctic National Park and the Northern Board of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring. Severtsov Institute zoologists worked the whole voyage on the White Whale programme. The expedition included studies on the distribution, numbers, migration routes and habitats of aquatic mammals in the White, Barents and Kara Seas. The expedition focused on the research of white whales in the changing climate. The research was sponsored by the Russian Geographical Society.

The Ivan Petrov voyage followed the Arkhangelsk–Novaya Zemlya Archipelago (Cape Zhelaniya)–Arkhangelsk route. The scientists monitored animals under a variety of weather conditions, including storms and rain, in the White, Barents and Kara Seas, as well as at the mouth of the Western Dvina. Monitoring was conducted simultaneously by two scientists, from starboard and from port, from the conning bridge wings, at a nine meter height above the water. The sea's surface and the visible coastline were scanned both by eye and with binoculars, and zoologists photographed the aquatic mammals. The ship's bearings were maintained with a GPS navigation system which also recorded the timing of the animal sightings. Scientists observed a total of four white whales during the expedition.