VIDEO: Inkfish and Vard sign EUR 700M research vessel contract
Written by Nick Blenkey
Image: Vard
Fincantieri reports that its Norwegian subsidiary Vard has signed a new contract with U.S.-based research organization Inkfish. Worth nearly EUR 700 million, it covers the design and construction of a groundbreaking deep-sea research vessel.
It is the largest order ever secured by Vard for a single vessel, and the largest order of its kind booked by any Norwegian shipyard.
The vessel, project, named RV11000, is based on the Vard 9 42 design, with a length of 162 meters and a beam of 28 meters, and is scheduled for delivery in first quarter 2030. It represents a significant advancement in capability, building on the engineering and design foundations established with the RV6000 vessel, which Vard contracted in 2025 and is currently building for Inkfish. Both vessels will join the ship owner’s growing fleet, supporting marine research worldwide and contributing data to open-source scientific repositories.
“This next-generation vessel builds on earlier designs to deliver significantly greater capability, flexibility, and reach to enable science,” said Stu Buckle, newbuilds and special projects Inkfish. “RV11000 will be a custom-built platform that pushes the boundaries on what is possible for marine research – strengthening our ability to support scientists and unlock new understanding of the ocean. Bringing researchers, shipbuilders, and operators together from the outset has ensured the design is driven directly by scientific ambition and need.“
Developed by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway, in close collaboration with Inkfish, RV11000 is a tailor-made platform designed for seafloor mapping, coring and sampling, submarine operations, and ROV activities at depths of up to 11,000 meters. The unit will enable a wide range of deep-ocean missions, including the deployment and support of submersibles, ROVs and autonomous vehicles.
The vessel will feature one of the largest battery installations ever fitted on a ship, enabling up to 12 hours of silent operations for scientific missions, alongside a highly advanced propulsion system combining DC technology with battery hybrid solutions. The hull is optimized for high-performance seafloor mapping, ensuring excellent station-keeping and enhanced operational efficiency, while advanced stabilizers will minimize motion and accelerations.
The unit will also be certified in accordance with the latest IACS cybersecurity requirements, ensuring a high level of resilience and protection of critical onboard systems against evolving digital threats.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri, commented: “This contract marks a milestone for the Fincantieri Group, representing the largest order ever secured by Vard for a single vessel and confirming our role as a global reference player in advanced, highly specialized shipbuilding for underwater operations,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri’s CEO and managing director. “Fincantieri plays a key enabling role in the development of highly technological solutions, supporting the creation of unique platforms for the most demanding deep-sea applications. The project combines scale, technological complexity and scientific ambition, reflecting our ability to design and deliver next-generation solutions for deep-sea exploration. It also underlines the strategic importance of the underwater domain for Fincantieri, where we continue to invest and innovate, leveraging our distinctive capabilities to support increasingly complex missions, from scientific research to the monitoring and protection of critical underwater infrastructure.”
Onboard facilities will include state-of-the-art laboratories, workshops and scientific spaces, as well as high-level accommodation for up to 130 crew members and researchers, designed to ensure optimal comfort and enable the highest standards of scientific work.
Through its integrated value chain, Vard will manage the entire project, including design, hull construction, outfitting, integration and commissioning. The hull will be built at Vard Shipyards Romania in Tulcea, while outfitting, commissioning and delivery will be carried out at one of the Vards’s shipyards in Norway.
