After days of preparation, the 182.9-metre Research Expedition Vessel (REV Ocean) has been technically launched in Tulcea, Romania last month. The 17,440 GT superyacht set to become the largest in the world, surpassing the 180.6-metre Azzam, has now begun her journey to Brattvåg in Norway for further outfitting works.
The superyacht was designed by Espen Oeino for expedition activities has been built by commercial shipbuilder VARD. The renowned designer also worked on the world's largest expedition superyacht at the moment of writing, the 125-metre Lurssen Octopus.
REV has been commissioned by Norwegian ocean research company Rosellinis Four-10, owned by Norwegian industrialist billionaire Kjell Inge Roekke. His real-time net worth meanwhile is estimated at $3.2 billion (Forbes).
Built in partnership with WWF Norway, REV will also be available for charter for recreational purposes and expeditions. She will be able to accommodate up to 60 scientists and 30 crew during research expeditions once finished.
Her robust exterior lines and modern features ensure she is able to cruise in arctic and tropical areas alike, with a hull built to ICE PC6 for navigation in ice. Two helipads can host drones and helicopter, while overhead cranes can lift and launch equipment weighing up to 20T over the side.
REV shall come equipped for conducting research that covers the entire marine ecosystem, using advanced technologies. She shall be deployed by scientists for innovative research expeditions which explore issues such as the impact that CO2 emissions have on the oceans, plastic pollution, protection of endangered species and sustainable fishing.
The vessel will be constructed to run on diesel electric engines, with an additional 3MW lithium-ion battery pack for peak shaving and ensuring optimum efficiency. She will also qualify for the Polar Code adopted by The International Maritime Organisation for ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic conditions and can operate autonomously for 114 days.
What is more, REV will come packed with a range of equipment designed to explore, document and collect, monitor and survey marine areas, currents, the seabed, fish and plant life, while cutting-edge laboratory facilities enable on board analysis. Her drop keels enable echo sounders and sonars to be placed in undisturbed water below the hull for research of the world’s ecosystems, and built into her stern is a trawl hangar and pelagic trawling system.
There will be an auditorium for lectures, and the capacity for live streaming, also a Moonpool, an eco-harvesting system for live catch and release of biomass and pelagic samples, and an underwater hydrophone system for listening to ocean mammals.
Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean, commented:
At REV Ocean our mission is to make a true difference in improving the state of our ocean. To achieve this, we need to work together and establish partnerships with other leading institutions and organisations with similar goals and values, primarily a commitment to sustainability and the future health of our planet.
The journey of the world’s most advanced research vessel to her the shed in Norway is scheduled to last 35 days. Then, she shall remain at the shipyard for eight-month outfitting, further headed to Germany for final stages of construction. The giga vessel's completion is scheduled for late 2020/ early 2021.