REV Ocean

History
Norway
Name	REV Ocean
Owner	Kjell Inge Røkke
Port of registry	Norway
Ordered	May 2017[1]
Builder	Fincantieri
Cost	US$350-500 million[2][3]
Laid down	2017
Launched	2019-08-24
Completed	2026 (planned)[4]
Status	Fitting out
General characteristics
Type	Research vessel
Tonnage	17,440 GT
Length	194.9 m (639 ft)
Beam	22 m (72 ft)
Draft	5.25 m (17.2 ft)
Ice class	Polar Class 6[5]
Installed power	4 × Wärtsilä 8L26 (4 × 2.7 MW (3,600 hp))[6]
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph), with 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) maximum
Range	21,120 nmi (39,110 km; 24,300 mi)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 trawlers, 1 submersible.[7][8]
Complement	90 (crew, scientists and guests)
Crew	30
Aviation facilities	2 helipads, ACH145 Airbus Corporate helicopter.[9]

REV Ocean is a privately funded research and expedition vessel (REV) under construction by VARD shipyards.

Some sources describe her as a yacht, but unlike a yacht, her main purpose is not recreation or sports. She is 194.9 metres (639 ft) in length and her gross tonnage is 17,440.

Design and construction

REV Ocean was designed by Espen Øino with an interior by H2 Yacht Design. It was initially intended to be a 140 m superyacht with some research facilities, but during the design process she grew in size and was turned into a research and expedition vessel with a yacht-like exterior and high standards of comfort and design, including a luxury accommodation.[10]

Contracts for construction and outfitting were signed in 2017, with an expected delivery in 2021. On June 17, 2021 it was announced that delivery was moved back to 2024.[4] In 2025 a contract was signed with Damen Shiprepair and to outfit the vessel[11]. Currect delivery of the vessel is expected to be late 2026.

The hull was built and equipped with the diesel-electric propulsion system in Tulcea, Romania, and initially launched on 24 August 2019.[12] She was then towed to Brattvåg, Norway to be fitted out with more technology. However, the ship was moved to Fosen Yard near Trondheim and fitted with a 12 metre midsection for a final length of 195 m.[13]

Final interior and exterior outfit is planned to happen at Vlissingen-Oost, Vlissingen, The Netherlands.

Owner and operation

REV Ocean is the flagship of Norwegian billionaire businessman Kjell Inge Røkke's REV Ocean initiative. In an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten (published 1 May 2017) Røkke said he planned to give away most of his fortune. As a further step in this plan he joined the Giving Pledge in 2017, and founded the REV Ocean initiative.

Led by former WWF Norway CEO Nina Jensen, REV Ocean is working to improve understanding of the ocean and foster concrete solutions through three initiatives: the world's largest research and expedition vessel (REV), the World Ocean Headquarters and an open, global data platform.[14]

She is purpose-built for scientific charter and environmental research missions.[15]

Her TIER III hybrid propulsion allows a full-electric mode at eleven knots when the yacht collects samples. Her total operating range is 21,000 nautical miles.[16]

References

1. "REV: Espen Øino on Vard's record-breaking 182.9m extreme build". Boat International. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
2. "Rokke research ship costing $350m | TradeWinds". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
3. Stef, Stef (7 November 2018). "Billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke pledges $500M to build new hi-tech ship to tackle ocean sustainability". YBW. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
4. "World's largest yacht REV Ocean to undergo outfitting at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen". Boat International. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
5. Fleet, Yacht Charter. "REV Yacht Charter Price - Vard Luxury Yacht Charter". www.yachtcharterfleet.com. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
6. Markussen, Helge Martin (19 February 2019). "Rev-Ocean flagges i NIS - Skipsrevyen.no". www.skipsrevyen.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 27 August 2019.
7. Øino, Espen. "Espen Øino on Designing the World's Largest Yacht". Superyachts.com. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
8. "REV Ocean secures first-ever Triton submersible capable of diving to 2,286 meters with three people aboard". Revocean. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
9. Mantey, David (4 October 2019). "World's Largest Yacht Adds New Airbus Helicopter". www.thomasnet.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
10. "Inside the Revolutionary Expedition Vessel Project REV". www.boatinternational.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
11. "World's largest yacht REV Ocean to undergo outfitting at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen". www.boatinternational.com. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
12. "REV Ocean makes a splash!". REV Ocean. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
13. "Her har Røkkes yacht blitt kuttet i to". e24.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 3 May 2024.
14. "One Healthy Ocean". Revocean. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
15. Nicholls, Laura (24 August 2019). "World's largest yacht launched: The 183m REV Ocean". www.superyachttimes.com. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
16. Meyer, René (26 August 2019). "REV OCEAN Yacht with Purpose of Research and largest yacht". yachtemoceans.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.