Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of the group Fincantieri which builds special vessels, has signed a new contract with the US research organization Inkfish for the design and construction of a deep-sea research vesselThe order value is approximately 700 million euro. It is the largest order ever acquired by Vard for a single unit and the most significant of its kind ever recorded by a Norwegian shipyard.
What will Vard's RV11000 be like?
The vessel, named RV11000 – a note from Fincantieri informs – is based on the Vard 9 42 design, has a length of 162 metres and a width of 28 metres, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2030. It represents a significant step forward in terms of capacity, developed starting from the engineering and design solutions already adopted for the RV6000 vessel, contracted by Vard in 2025 and currently under construction for Inkfish, Fincantieri explains in a note. Both units will join the shipowner's fleet to support global marine research activities and contributing to data sharing in open-source repositories.
The ship – explains Fincantieri in detail – will be equipped with one of the most advanced battery storage systems never installed on board a naval unit, allowing up to 12 hours of silent operation for scientific missions, as well as featuring an advanced propulsion system combining direct current (DC) technology and hybrid battery solutions. The hull will be optimized to ensure high performance in seabed mapping, while onboard spaces will include state-of-the-art laboratories, workshops, and scientific areas, as well as accommodations for up to 130 people including crew and researchers.
CEO Folgiero: "A significant milestone for the Fincantieri Group."
“This contract represents a significant milestone for the Fincantieri group, marking the largest order ever acquired by Vard for a single unit and confirming our global reference role in the construction of highly specialized and high-tech vessels for operations in the underwater domain”, he stated Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, according to Folgiero, the company plays "an enabling role in the development of technologically advanced solutions, contributing to the creation of unique platforms for the most complex applications in the deep-sea sector. The project combines scale, technological complexity, and scientific ambition, reflecting our ability to design and build next-generation solutions for deep-sea exploration. It also confirms the strategic importance of the underwater domain for Fincantieri, in which we continue to invest and innovate, leveraging our distinctive skills to support increasingly complex missions, from scientific research to the monitoring and protection of critical underwater infrastructure," concludes Folgiero.
