V.Ships, part of V.Group, has  announced that it will partner with REV Ocean to provide a tailored suite of ship management services for the world’s largest and most advanced research and expedition vessel, the REV Ocean.

The vessel, which is currently at Vard Søviknes, Norway, will be equipped to conduct research across the entire marine ecosystem, using advanced technology systems developed by world-leading knowledge clusters in Norway. It will be used by scientists and other experts for innovative research expeditions to find solutions to issues such as the impact of CO₂ emissions, plastic pollution, and unsustainable fishing on the ocean.

The vessel is constructed to run on diesel electric engines, with an additional 3MW lithium-ion battery pack for peak shaving, ensuring optimum efficiency onboard.

Dag Christoffersen, Managing Director of V.Ships Norway, said: “REV Ocean’s decision to build the biggest vessel of its kind in the world, featuring the world’s most advanced technology and scientific equipment, necessitates ship management support from a partner with unmatched capacity to deliver.

“In addition to V.’s global reach and service offering, REV Ocean will benefit from the local expertise of our Norway office, which has strong ties with the Kjell Inge Røkke group of companies, and extensive knowledge of working within the guidelines set out by the Norwegian Maritime Authority.”

Per Bjørnsen, CEO of V.Ships Leisure, added: “We are delighted to welcome the REV Ocean – which in addition to being a research vessel is the world’s largest yacht – to our fleet at a time where we see an increased demand for our yacht management services. Many owners of very large yachts in private use are looking for a global partner combining the safety culture, operating platform, global reach and scale of V. with our dedicated yacht management team providing bespoke services.

“This exciting new partnership with REV Ocean will allow us to leverage V.’s unique range of expertise and experience, and our powerful digital ship management platform, ShipSure, to contribute to vital scientific research. In doing so, we will maximise our positive impact on a vessel that is at the cutting edge of green ship technology.”

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 are establishing partnerships with other leading organisations with similar goals and values, and especially those that hold a commitment to sustainability and the future health of our planet.

“V.’s unrivalled experience across a range of maritime sectors means they are well equipped to handle the need for versatility and specialisation that will be required for REV Ocean. Their excellent track record in expedition cruises, including those operating in polar waters, will ensure that our vessel, and the crew onboard, will be able to tackle the most demanding of environments. At the same time, their digital platform will play an integral role in ensuring that all operations are efficient and optimised, with the benefit of 24/7 real-time data which will help to inform decisions and actions on each expedition.

“Together we will make sure that the ocean continues to thrive and can provide oxygen, food, and jobs for mankind for generations to come. After all, there is no alternative.”

An independent science and innovation board will evaluate and recommend research projects for REV Ocean to pursue and ensure the highest level of scientific standards and research quality onboard. The vessel has the capacity to take 106 people, of which around 50-65 will be crew depending on the planned operations. The ship features state-of-the-art scientific equipment, such as echo sounders and sonars to study fish and other marine species, an advanced eco-harvesting trawl sampling system for selective live catch of biomass and pelagic samples, a submarine, an advanced ROV, and multiple on-board laboratories.

REV Ocean will sail from Vard Søviknes on 2 March 2025 to Damen Shiprepair in Vlissingen, the Netherlands for final yacht outfitting work, before being put into full operation from the beginning of 2027. V. commenced management of the vessel from December 2024, and amongst the organisation’s first tasks was the sourcing of experienced crew for this initial voyage.

V. will manage the vessel during outfitting in the Netherlands, as well as when the ship enters full operation at the beginning of 2027.