Vard to build €200m research vessel for US-based Inkfish

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has signed a contract valued at over €200 million with US-based research organisation Inkfish for the design and construction of a new research vessel.

The vessel will join Inkfish’s existing fleet alongside RV Hydra and RV Dagon. The hull will be built at one of Vard’s shipyards in Romania, with final outfitting and commissioning to take place in Norway. Delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.

The vessel will feature a length of 100 metres, a beam of 20.7 metres and a maximum speed of 15 knots. It is designed for seafloor mapping, submersible support, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations.

It will be able to support two manned submersibles and an ROV with a 6,000-metre depth capacity. The ship will also feature a hybrid power and propulsion system and accommodation for up to 70 crew and scientists.

Onboard equipment will include a stern-mounted A-Frame system, a large maintenance hangar, an offshore crane with active heave compensation, and a hydroacoustic survey system for high-resolution seafloor mapping.