Vard Secures Record €700 Million Contract to Build Next-Generation Deep-Sea Research Vessel

Norwegian shipbuilding company Vard has signed a landmark contract with research organization Inkfish for the design and construction of the next-generation deep-sea research vessel RV11000. The project is valued at approximately €700 million ($810 million).

According to Vard, this is the largest single-vessel contract in the company’s history and the largest order of its kind ever awarded to a Norwegian shipyard.

Designed for the Deepest Parts of the Ocean

The new vessel will be built to the VARD 9 42 design and will serve as the successor to RV6000, another dedicated research vessel that Inkfish ordered from Vard in 2025.

Key specifications of RV11000 include:

• Length: 162 meters;
• Beam: 28 meters;
• Operational capability at depths of up to 11,000 meters;
• Deep-sea scientific exploration missions;
• Seabed mapping and surveying;
• Core drilling and sediment sampling;
• Support for submarines and underwater vehicles.

The vessel is being developed as a highly versatile scientific platform capable of exploring some of the least understood regions of the world’s oceans.

Advanced Equipment for Extreme Deep-Sea Operations

RV11000 will be equipped with an extensive range of specialized systems designed for scientific work at extreme depths.

Among the key features are:

• A stern-mounted A-frame for launching and recovering submersibles;
• Dedicated hangars for submarines and ROVs;
• A winch system with 12,000 meters of cable;
• A 40-meter coring system for geological sampling;
• A fiber-rope lifting system capable of operating at depths of 15,000 meters;
• A CTD system for measuring conductivity, temperature, and depth;
• A deep-sea crane capable of operating at depths of up to 2,500 meters.

The hull will also be specifically optimized for high-precision seabed mapping operations.

Largest Battery Installation Ever Fitted to a Vessel

One of the most innovative aspects of the project is its advanced power system.

According to Vard, RV11000 will feature:

• Four active stabilization fins;
• Dynamic Positioning (DP) capabilities;
• Silent operation mode for up to 12 hours;
• The largest battery installation ever fitted to a vessel.

These technologies will allow scientists to conduct sensitive research operations while minimizing underwater noise and vibration.

Built to the Latest Cybersecurity Standards

The vessel will be certified in accordance with the latest cybersecurity requirements established by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).

RV11000 will also receive the DNV Cyber Security (Essential, +) notation, confirming a high level of protection for its digital infrastructure and onboard systems.

Expanding the Frontiers of Ocean Science

Inkfish representatives stated that the new vessel builds upon previous research programs while significantly expanding the organization’s scientific capabilities.

According to Stu Buckle, Head of New Vessels and Special Projects at Inkfish, close collaboration between researchers, engineers, shipbuilders, and operators from the earliest stages ensured that the vessel was designed specifically around scientific objectives and future research requirements.

Once delivered, RV11000 will join Inkfish’s growing fleet alongside RV Hydra, RV Dagon, and the future RV6000, supporting ocean exploration missions and providing valuable scientific data to open-access research repositories worldwide.

The RV11000 project is already being described as one of the most ambitious deep-sea research vessels ever conceived, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in modern ocean exploration.