该研究所是根据苏联科学院主席团的决议于1946年在1941年成立的海洋学实验室的基础上成立的。彼得·希尔绍夫（Peter Shirshov）成为该研究所的第一任所长。与P. Shirshov一起，Lev Zenkevich，Veniamin Bogorov，Semen Bruyevich，Alexei Dobrovolsky，Pamteleimon Bezrukov，Ivan Papanin，Vladimir Shtockman等人积极参与了新科学中心的形成。
IO RAS隶属于加里宁格勒的大西洋省，格连吉克的南部省，圣彼得堡的分支机构，阿尔汉格尔斯克的西北省和阿斯特拉罕的里海分支机构。
该研究所提供船舶的技术操作和管理，潜水操作的组织，水下潜在危险物体的检查等服务。
该研究所是船东，根据运营管理权，代表自己经营船舶，确保遵守俄罗斯联邦立法的强制性规则和条例以及关于航行、航行安全和防止环境污染的国际公约。
IO RAS海洋探险中心的结构，其运营管理是俄罗斯科学船队的核心 - 五艘大吨位和中吨位船只，以及2017年将另外9艘移交给该中心运营管理的程序（包括RAS远东分公司的8艘科学船）。这使该研究所能够开展海洋研究的所有工作：从获取世界海洋观测的主要数据到在世界领先的专业期刊上发表科学成果。
该研究所执行由俄罗斯FASO组建和批准的国家任务，同时考虑到俄罗斯科学院的建议。2016年，国家分配的基本主题数量为64个，2017年为63个。
2016年，该研究所通过RAS主席团和部门的13个项目，向RFBR提供99项赠款，向俄罗斯科学基金会提供10项赠款，向俄罗斯联邦总统提供2项赠款，从教育和科学部获得6项赠款以及国家合同，获得了国家支持。
在2013年和2016年，该研究所得到了海洋和气候科学领域的两笔巨额赠款的支持。这些资助的领导者是世界知名的科学家 - Pavel Groisman和Bernard Barnier。
The Institute was established in 1946 by a resolution of the Presidium of the Soviet Academy of Sciences on the basis of the Oceanographic Laboratory established in 1941. Peter Shirshov became the institute's first director. With P. Shirshov, Lev Zenkevich, Veniamin Bogorov, Semen Bruyevich, Alexei Dobrovolsky, Pamteleimon Bezrukov, Ivan Papanin, Vladimir Shtockman and others were actively involved in the formation of the new science center.
IO RAS belongs to the Atlantic Province of Kaliningrad, the southern province of Gerengik, the branch of St. Petersburg, the north-western province of Arkhangelsk and the Caspian Branch of Astrakhan.
The institute provides technical operation and management of ships, organization of diving operations, inspection of potentially dangerous underwater objects and other services.
The Institute is a shipowner and operates ships on its behalf under the authority of operational management, ensuring compliance with the mandatory rules and regulations of the Legislation of the Russian Federation and international conventions on navigation, navigation safety and the prevention of environmental pollution.
The structure of the IO RAS Marine Exploration Center, whose operational management is the core of the Russian scientific fleet - five large and medium tonnage vessels, and the procedures for handing over another nine vessels to the center's operational management in 2017 (including eight scientific vessels from the Far East branch of RAS). This enables the Institute to carry out all aspects of ocean research: from obtaining key data from the world's ocean observations to publishing scientific results in the world's leading professional journals.
The Institute carries out state tasks established and approved by FASO of Russia, taking into account the recommendations of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2016, the number of basic topics allocated by the state was 64, and in 2017, 63.
In 2016, the Institute received state support by providing 99 grants to the RFBR, 10 grants to the Russian Science Foundation, 2 grants to the President of the Russian Federation, 6 grants from the Ministry of Education and Science and state contracts through 13 projects of the Bureau and departments of the RAS.
In 2013 and 2016, the institute was supported by two major grants in the fields of ocean and climate science. These grants are led by world-renowned scientists - Pavel Groisman and Bernard Barnier.