Norwegian shipbuilding company Vard has signed a contract worth approximately $810 million with Inkfish for the construction of a deep-sea research vessel.
According to Vard, the order is both the largest single-vessel contract in the company’s history and a record-breaking project for Norwegian shipyards in this sector.
The vessel, named RV11000, will be 162 meters long and designed for deep-ocean missions, including seabed mapping at depths of up to 11,000 meters, deployment of underwater vehicles, sample collection, and operations involving remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
The ship will be equipped with advanced launch and recovery systems for submersibles, dedicated hangars, lifting equipment capable of operating at depths of up to 15,000 meters, and modern oceanographic research facilities.
In addition, the RV11000 will feature the largest battery system ever installed on a vessel, enabling up to 12 hours of silent operation.
The next-generation research vessel will also be certified in accordance with the latest cybersecurity standards.
