Inkfish and Vard Team Up to Develop Innovative Research Vessels with Superior Seafloor Mapping Capabilities

In an impressive collaboration of technology, enterprise, and marine research, Inkfish by Gabe Newell and shipbuilding company Vard known for their ecosystem of innovation, have begun constructing the revolutionary RV6000. With its keel laying on June 4th at the Vard’s Brăila facility in Romania and representatives of Gabe Newell’s marine research organisation, UK technical partner YTMC and class society DNV gracing the event, something truly remarkable is taking shape upon the Danube.

The RV6000 is a groundbreaking endeavor, integrating high resolution seafloor mapping capabilities and hybrid technology to expand the scope of ocean research. Designed to function on Vard’s 9 33 framework and powered by a 21-meter beam, the RV6000 echoes the commitment of its producers to advancing marine exploration. Exemplary of this is its eVSP propulsors, pushing the vessel to a top speed of 15 knots, and its operational longevity of 30 consecutive days.

Inkfish’s partnership with Vard is indeed crafting a new era of marine discovery. The handover for the magnificent RV6000 is scheduled for Q2 of 2028, with its final outfitting, commissioning, and delivery taking place earlier at Vard’s Søviknes yard on Norway’s west coast. Even more excitingly, this is just one of the projects Vard and Inkfish have taken on together. Their lineup includes another project, the RV11000; with a €700 million budget, it represents the largest order for a single Vard vessel and any Norwegian shipyard.

This unprecedented collaboration between shipbuilders and researchers reaffirms the potential for marine research, illustrating the wonderful possibilities that lie beneath the ocean’s surface. Through the initiative and technological acumen of Inkfish and Vard, future generations will find new avenues for understanding and appreciating the nautical world.