The new research vessel RV11000 is set to revolutionize deep-sea exploration with its cutting-edge technology and advanced capabilities.
Developed by Vard Design in partnership with Inkfish and technical partner YTMC, the vessel is being designed for a wide range of deep-ocean operations, including seabed mapping, sediment coring, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployment, and submarine support.
The RV11000 will feature the largest battery installation ever fitted to a vessel, allowing up to 12 hours of silent scientific operations powered entirely by battery systems.
The ship will also be equipped with advanced oceanographic instruments, including systems for measuring temperature, salinity, and pressure at depth.
The vessel will have facilities to launch and recover submarines, operate ROVs at extreme depths, and collect sediment samples using a 40-metre coring system.
The RV11000 will accommodate up to 130 crew members and scientists, most of them in single cabins, and will include laboratories, workshops, and office facilities designed to support scientific research programmes.
The ship is intended to support a broad range of scientific missions and will be built through VARD's integrated production network, with delivery scheduled for the first quarter of 2030.
The RV11000 represents a new level of ambition in deep-sea exploration, combining a wide range of newly developed and highly advanced technologies into a single platform dedicated to operating at the deepest parts of the ocean.
The vessel's objective is to help researchers explore previously uncharted regions of the ocean and contribute to the most comprehensive deep-ocean dataset assembled so far.
The ship will be a custom-built platform that pushes the boundaries on what is possible for marine research, strengthening the ability to support scientists and unlock new understanding of the ocean.
The RV11000 is a testament to the collaboration between researchers, shipbuilders, and operators, driven directly by scientific ambition and need.
