The Norwegian initiative REV Ocean has unveiled the route plans for the first research voyages of its ship of the same name. The first mission is set to begin in April 2027 in Rio de Janeiro, where the UN Ocean Decade Conference will take place from 7 to 9 April. From there, the programme will take the vessel through the South Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Sargasso Sea and the eastern tropical Pacific. The planned expeditions are scheduled to run until the end of 2028.
Ten missions over two years
On board, international research teams will investigate various marine habitats across ten missions. Topics include seamounts off the coast of Brazil, cold-water corals, deep-sea ecosystems, so-called blue carbon habitats and transboundary marine protected areas. The link between scientific data and policy decisions also plays a key role.
The projects are carried out in collaboration with regional partners. These include, amongst others, universities, nature conservation organisations, United Nations agencies and public authorities. According to REV Ocean, the missions are intended not only to provide new data, but also to support the development of expertise in the regions involved.
A focus on brown algae
Particular attention is being paid to the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. This consists of extensive accumulations of the free-floating brown alga Sargassum, which occurs on the sea surface in the subtropical Atlantic. A mission in August 2027 is set to investigate the belt north of Brazil, between Fortaleza and Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. The scientific leadership will be provided by AWI researcher Mar Fernández-Méndez and Prof. Linda Amaral Zettler from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). The expedition aims to address several questions simultaneously. The research will focus on the biodiversity within the Sargassum mats, the role of the algae in the carbon cycle from the surface to the seabed, and the potential accumulation of microplastics.
“The pelagic brown alga Sargassum grows on the ocean’s surface throughout the subtropical Atlantic and, as it grows, sequesters large amounts of carbon through photosynthesis,” explains Mar Fernández. “When it sinks, it can permanently sequester some of the carbon and contribute to climate protection. However, to date, no one has measured precisely how these naturally occurring Sargassum mats contribute to the global carbon cycle. Furthermore, there are many unknowns regarding its fate in the deep sea.”
In addition, a training component is planned for early-career researchers from island states that are particularly affected by Sargassum washes. Since 2011, large quantities of this brown seaweed have been washing up regularly on Caribbean coasts. There, it can cause ecological and economic problems, for example by littering beaches, reducing water quality and restricting tourism and fishing. At the same time, Sargassum is also being investigated as a potential source of raw materials.
Research vessel fitted with deep-sea equipment
The “REV Ocean” is 195 metres long, 22 metres wide and has a draught of 5.65 metres. The steel and aluminium hull was built in 2018 to designs by Espen Øino Laid down internationally, fitted out at VARD in Brattvag, Norway, and to be delivered there in 2024 extended by twelve metres. Whilst “REV Ocean” appears from the outside to be a robust explorer vessel, part of the interior is to be fitted out to yachting standards and in accordance with the specifications of H2 Yacht Design in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. This includes a central atrium with a glass lift and a suspended staircase. The giant reached its third port of call under its own steam in the spring of 2025.
The vessel has nine permanent laboratories for biological, chemical and oceanographic research. In addition, there is a versatile work deck on which mission-specific equipment can be accommodated. Two manned and unmanned systems are available for deep-sea research. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Aurora is designed for operations at depths of up to 6,000 metres. The manned submersible Aurelia can carry three people to a depth of 2,300 metres, where it can operate for up to eight hours. Both systems are equipped with cameras and sensors for targeted sampling of water, the seabed and marine organisms.
Its technical equipment makes “REV Ocean” a floating research platform. According to the operator, the vessel is not only intended for taking samples and collecting data. An auditorium, a classroom, a conference room and other meeting areas have been provided to bring researchers, policy-makers and representatives of public authorities into direct contact with field research.
Data should remain publicly accessible
Each mission is divided into three phases: first, planning with regional partners; then two to five weeks at sea; and finally, evaluation and meetings on land. REV Ocean cites, amongst other things, new baseline data, the foundations for marine protected areas, recommendations for political action and training programmes as criteria for success.
The results are to be made available via the Ocean Data Platform and other suitable platforms. This will ensure that the data remains accessible to the research community, policymakers and nature conservation organisations even after the respective expedition has ended. The expedition is of interest to maritime research for several reasons. The REV Ocean combines the capabilities of a large research vessel with modern deep-sea equipment and an infrastructure for international collaboration. A key factor will be whether the data collected leads to concrete conservation measures. It is precisely at this interface between research and marine conservation that the programme comes into its own.
Philanthropy and the Charter
REV Ocean is one of a number of private research initiatives with a philanthropic focus. Superyacht owner and games developer Gabe Newell is taking a similar approach with Inkfish. The Schmidt Ocean Institute was founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt in 2009 and counts the 111-metre-long “Falkor (too)” amongst its fleet. The former Google CEO owned several large motor yachts, whilst his wife is a keen maxi-yacht sailor. US investor Ray Dalio and his son carry out marine research on their own account with “OceanXplorer” (87 m).
The “REV Ocean” operates primarily, though not exclusively, as a research vessel. The plan is for the 195-metre vessel to spend 25 per cent of the year in Charter business are underway. The project’s principal, Kjell Inge Røkke, is also likely to come on board from time to time. The Norwegian entrepreneur founded REV Ocean in 2017; its headquarters are in Fornebu. The overarching aim is to restore the ocean to health. All profits from projects are to be reinvested in the work towards a healthier ocean.
Kjell Inge Røkke owes a great deal to the sea. The sectors that have shaped his career are dependent on the very same systems he is now committed to protecting. As the UN Special Envoy for the Oceans, he brings his conviction to the forums where global decisions are made.
Sören Gehlhaus
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