The revolutionary REV Ocean has been officially recognised with a world record as the world’s most advanced research and expedition vessel, combining unparalleled scientific capabilities with cutting-edge maritime engineering.
Built at VARD shipyards in Tulcea, Romania, and fitted out across facilities in Norway and Germany, the 183-metre (600 ft) super-vessel weighs in at 17,440 gross tons and has been lauded as a new high-water mark for ocean research platforms. Designed to serve as a state-of-the-art floating laboratory, REV Ocean is equipped with advanced scientific laboratories, sonar mapping systems, submersibles, and helicopters, enabling multidisciplinary oceanographic research that spans climate change, marine biodiversity, pollution and ecosystem health.
The ship’s cutting-edge features include two helipads, multiple research submersibles, and an innovative live fish capture system for biological studies — all housed beneath its streamlined structure that balances technological sophistication with operational efficiency. The project is part of the broader REV Ocean initiative, spearheaded by Norwegian philanthropist Kjell Inge Røkke and led by former WWF Norway CEO Nina Jensen, with the mission of advancing scientific knowledge and practical solutions to plastic pollution, climate impacts and unsustainable fishing.
Once fully complete — with outfitting and final commissioning expected in the coming years — REV Ocean will support long-range missions across the world’s oceans, offering researchers a powerful platform to deepen understanding of marine systems and inspire global efforts toward ocean health.
The recognition of REV Ocean’s record underscores a growing commitment within the scientific community to explore, protect and preserve the planet’s largest ecosystem with tools as ambitious as the challenges it faces.
