REV Ocean Enters Final Construction Phase

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NORWAY, March 5, 2025 – The REV Ocean vessel has completed its initial construction phase at Vard Søviknes  shipyard in Norway and will now proceed to Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV) in the Netherlands for the final stage of exterior and interior outfitting. DSV, part of the larger DAMEN Shipyards group, is located in the south of the Netherlands, and has a proven track record of successfully refitting 100m+ vessels. With its covered dock and logistical setup, it is ideally suited to complete REV Ocean’s final stage.

Since construction began in 2018 at Vard Shipyards Romania – Tulcea, REV Ocean has been on an ambitious journey to bring a new level of innovation and commitment to ocean health. The vessel’s unique design combines advanced marine technology and research facilities to address critical ocean issues, including plastic pollution, climate change, and unsustainable fishing practices. The vessel has seen some significant construction delays and was originally supposed to be completed in 2021. The vessel has since been extended by 12 meters, and the top of the superstructure has been redesigned and rebuilt in aluminium. The 12-meter extension has been used to expand the ship’s capabilities by adding a submarine hangar, a separate CTD-hangar, container storage, a media studio and a 3D printing and robotics laboratory. Despite a challenging construction phase, the result is a state-of-the-art research and expedition vessel.

«Our relationship with VARD remains strong. We have worked through these challenges together, and both parties are committed to the success of this project.”, says CEO of REV Ocean Nina Jensen.

«Navigating the complexity of such an advanced vessel has required significant focus on technical expertise and production skills, as well as collaboration. We are happy to see the result of this journey and it’s fantastic to now send the vessel off to its final outfitting phase», says project manager in VARD, Silje Ulvestad.

The vessel is scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2026.

Once outfitting is complete, the vessel will be ready for its inaugural mission in 2027, welcoming scientists, policymakers, innovators, and advocates onboard to create solutions and advance a shared goal: One Healthy Ocean.

For more information, please contact:

Nina Jensen
CEO, REV Ocean
+4799169694
nina.jensen@revocean.org

REV Ocean hosts 2nd Submersible Operators Group meeting in Oslo

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Registration Link:  Click Here

We are thrilled to announce the Second Submersible Operators Meeting (SOG 2024), which will be held in Fornebu (Oslo), Norway.

This invite is open to members of the submersible community, operators of submersibles, submersible manufacturers and classification bodies whose expertise and insights are invaluable to our collective pursuit of safe submersible operations.

SOG 2024 promises to be an enriching experience, featuring informative discussions, collaborative workshops, and networking opportunities with fellow industry professionals.

Date: Tuesday, 8th October 9AM to Thursday, 10th October 2024 12PM

Venue: REV Ocean, Oksenøyveien 10, 1366 Lysaker, Fornebu, Norway:

Cost: Registration is Free

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nU34o9uWhXnEYGL28

Programme

A detailed programme will be developed in the upcoming months. Updates on the programme and meeting logistics will be posted on this website

Programme highlights include:

  • Action items and updates from the 2023 SOG workshop
  • Best practices in submersible operations
  • Safety protocols and risk management strategies
  • Next steps for the SOG

Additionally, a unique social event with dinner and tours will take place onboard the historic polar exploration vessel Fram, once utilised by legendary explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.

REV Ocean heads north with UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, and Ocean Census to Discover New Species in the Arctic and Barents Sea

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Tromsø, Norway, May 3 – REV Ocean, in collaboration with UiT and Ocean Census, is sending its best equipment and technical team to support 36 world class scientists who will be discovering new sea species in the Arctic and Barents Sea. 

Scheduled from May 3 to May 31, the Extreme24 expedition will leverage REV Ocean’s advanced deep diving Aurora ROV and skilled support team to facilitate groundbreaking scientific exploration aboard the Institute of Marine Research’s RV Kronprins Haakon. 

“Our collaboration with UiT and Ocean Census underscores our commitment to advancing scientific research and exploration,” said Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean. “By providing our expertise and resources, we aim to support their efforts in uncovering the mysteries of the deep sea and expanding our understanding of marine ecosystems.” 

The expedition will sample and film the remote and enigmatic marine environment of the Fram Strait passage between Greenland and Svalbard, with the intention of discovering dozens of new species. The research area encompasses a wide range of deep-sea habitats including Molløy Deep – the deepest point in the Arctic Sea at 5550 metres.  

Prof. Alex Rogers, Science Director at Ocean Census, said, “The deep sea of the Arctic Ocean is one of the least explored regions on earth and is home to countless species unknown to science. The Ocean Census Arctic Deep expedition comes at a critical juncture if we are to protect this fragile and diverse habitat.” 

 The second leg of the cruise will revisit the Borealis mud volcano in the Barents Sea, approximately 70 nautical miles south of Bear Island and at 400m deep. The crater around the volcano hosts a rich community of life that includes sea anemones, carnivorous sponges, sea stars, corals, sea spiders and crustaceans. The team will take new samples and film the volcano with a new high-resolution camera. 

Professor Giuliana Panieri, expedition leader and Principal Investigator of the Extreme24 project said: “It is exciting to return to the Borealis mud volcano again. Last year we had great success using Aurora ROV and working with the whole REV Ocean team. Now we hope to get even more detailed samples and improved images of this amazing deep-sea feature.”

The Extreme 24 expedition presents an excellent opportunity for the REV Ocean crew to operate under demanding circumstances and fine-tune the performance of Aurora ROV ahead of its deployment on the REV Ocean ship later this year. With preparations underway for the vessel’s operational phase in 2026, this mission is a great chance for the team to gear up for the important tasks ahead. 

For regular expedition updates, follow @REV Ocean on social media.  

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Lawrence Hislop
Communications Director
+47 48500514 
lawrence.hislop@revocean.org

About REV Ocean 

REV Ocean has an ambitious yet simple goal – to ensure ‘One Healthy Ocean’.  The company was established July 20th, 2017 and is funded by Norwegian business-man Kjell Inge Røkke. 

REV Ocean will enable a new generation of ocean solutions and raise awareness of global impacts on the marine environment. We need to improve our understanding of the ocean, get key stakeholders – decision-makers, researchers, business and civil society – aligned with that understanding and turn that knowledge into concrete solutions. 

The REV Ocean Science Strategy covers: Plastic pollution, climate change and ocean acidification, overfishing and environmental impacts of fishing. 

www.revocean.org 

About UiT 

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is at the forefront of Arctic research, offering a unique geographical advantage for studying the region’s complex environments. As the northernmost university in the world, UiT is a leader in the field of polar science, providing cutting-edge research on climate change, marine biodiversity, and the sustainable use of Arctic resources. With a strong commitment to multidisciplinary and collaborative research, UiT is dedicated to fostering innovation and providing insights that contribute to global challenges.

Turning Challenges into Solutions: REV Ocean sets sail for 2027 Launch

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Fornebu/Ålesund, 10.11.23.  An agreement on completion of the REV Ocean vessel has been reached with the shipbuilder VARD. To ensure the functionality of the vessel, the vessel will be lengthened by 12 meters and modified in certain areas. This will also provide more space and increased science capacity in the main hangar of the vessel. VARD now expect to deliver the vessel in February 2025, which means that the vessel will be operational from Q1 2027. VARD will undertake the rebuild at VARD’s facilities and in dock at suitable location in Norway. Final completion activities will as previously planned be carried out after delivery from VARD at a location to be decided closer to VARD’s delivery. 

We eagerly await delivery of this unique research and expedition vessel.

We thank all our team members, friends and partners for their patience during this time and look forward to finally setting sail.  

Additional render images are available here.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Nina Jensen
CEO, REV Ocean
nina.jensen@revocean.org

Introducing Eva Ramirez-Llodra, the newly appointed Science Director of REV Ocean

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Introducing Eva Ramirez-Llodra, the newly appointed Science Director of REV Ocean. Hailing from Barcelona, Spain, Eva’s journey to this role began in a unique manner. She spent her formative years in a French school until the age of 12. Following that, Eva embarked on an extraordinary eight-year global adventure with her parents and brother, navigating the seas on a 35-foot sailboat.

Eva’s academic path led her to pursue a Ph.D. at the Southampton Oceanography Centre, where she worked under the guidance of distinguished professors such as Prof. Paul Tyler (SOC, UK), Dr. Craig Young (HBOI, USA), and Dr. David Billett (SOC, UK). Her research at the time revolved around the reproductive patterns of deep-sea invertebrates in relation to energy availability in their habitat.

With over two decades of experience as a benthic marine ecologist, Eva has delved into a broad array of topics, including biodiversity, early life-history processes, and the connectivity of deep-sea benthic ecosystems. Her special passion, however, lies in advancing ocean sustainability.

Throughout her career, Eva has taken on prominent roles at institutions like the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), INDEEP (International Network for Scientific Investigations of Deep-Sea Ecosystem), DOSI (Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative), and IUCN-CEM.

In her own words, “I enjoy the variety of my work, being in the lab, at sea, doing analyses and writing up the results, presenting in conferences, and teaching. I also really enjoy being part of a multidisciplinary team that is working towards ocean solutions. One of the aspects of my work I still enjoy the most is going to sea on research cruises.” – Eva 

Deep-sea coral conservation and restoration workshop in Oslo

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Background:
Coral reefs are the Rain Forests of the Ocean, supporting one in every four marine species, the livelihoods of 1 billion people, and offering coastal protection. They are currently at grave risk!

75-90% are predicted to be lost under climate change by 2050 even if we meet our most ambitious climate goals. 

Programme: May 10-12, 2023

The aims of the workshop are to identify gaps in the field of deep-sea coral reef restoration and conservation, and create a roadmap for funding to fill those gaps. The team will output a ranked list of priorities for CORDAP funding calls over time i.e., give recommendations on priority funding topics and the direction of this funding.

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New mud volcano discovered in the Barents Sea

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A unique new volcano has been discovered at 400 meters depth in the Barents Sea. The volcano erupts mud, fluids and gas from the planet’s interior, giving new insight into Earth science.

Photo: UiT/AKMA3

The AKMA3 expedition led by scientists from UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, in partnership with REV Ocean, has discovered the second ever mud volcano found within Norwegian waters, the Borealis Mud Volcano. This unusual geological phenomenon was discovered onboard the research vessel Kronprins Haakon with the piloted submersible vehicle ROV Aurora in the Southwestern Barents Sea at the outer part of Bjørnøyrenna (Outer Bear Island Trough). It lies at approximately 70 nautical miles south of Bear Island and at 400m deep.

The newly discovered volcano rests inside a crater which is approximately 300 m wide and 25m deep and is most likely the result of a catastrophic, natural blow out that abruptly released massive methane just after the last glaciation period, 18,000 years ago. Currently, the Borealis Mud Volcano, which is ca 7 meters in diameter and 2.5 meters high, continuously emits fluids rich in methane. Methane is a highly effective climate gas when it reaches the atmosphere. This discovery will help scientists understand the potential impact of localized but persistent in-time phenomena on the global methane budget and its impacts on the ecosystems.

Professor Giuliana Panieri, expedition leader and Principal Investigator of the AKMA project, said: “We do not exclude the possibility of discovering other mud volcanoes in the Barents Sea. It is only thanks to collaborative team teamwork and advanced technology that these results can be achieved. Seeing in real time an underwater mud eruption reminded me how “alive” our planet is”.

The crater hosts a rich community of seabed life, thriving on the steep flanks of carbonate crusts formed several thousands of years ago. This unique habitat includes sea anemones, sponges, carnivorous sponges, sea stars, corals, sea spiders and crustaceans. Within the crater, there are also areas of extensive bacteria mats and tube worms.

Professor Stefan Buenz, expedition co-leader, said “Exploring the ocean floor and discovering new methane seeps is like finding hidden treasures. It’s full of surprises. We have found thousands of seeps. Yet, every time we go down to the ocean floor, we come away with a feeling that we are just beginning to understand the vastness and incredible diversity of seep systems.” 

Science Director of Ocean Census and REV Ocean, Alex Rogers, an expedition participant, said: “During this expedition we have discovered that these blow-out craters are unique refuges from human impacts like trawling for fragile marine animals such as corals and sponges.”

The international research team onboard know of only one other mud volcano in existence in Norwegian waters, the Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano discovered in 1995. The Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano lies at 1250 m deep on the seafloor south of Svalbard at 72°N. These peculiar features are direct windows into the Earth’s interior since they erupt predominantly water and fine sediments from depths of several hundred meters to few kilometres providing a window into past environments. Understanding the evolution and the fluids’ composition help us comprehend their potential impact on the global methane budget and can inform about what happens on other planets.

Beckett Colson, WHOI postdoctoral investigator, said “It has been an honour to be part of this very international team of students and scientists. I joined the expedition to operate a new real-time methane instrument, but it has been incredible to explore these beautiful habitats.”

Irene Viola, an Erasmus student at UiT, said “As a student that studied and saw mud volcanoes only on land, seeing one on the seafloor was an amazing experience. You could sense the surprise, the excitement, the happiness spreading from the team the exact moment we saw it on screen. My first thought was, “I want to go down there, stick my arm in it!”

The AKMA3 oceanographic expedition has a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and students onboard, and is part of the Advancing Knowledge of Methane in the Arctic, a project funded by the Norwegian Research Council, which includes the following partners: WHOI Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the US, La Rochelle Université France, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca in Italy, Universidade de Aveiro and CESAM in Portugal, Centre for Deep Sea Research and Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Bergen in Norway, Ocean Census and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.

The team is completing the third and final AKMA mission and is returning to shore May 10th after a twelve-day cruise in the Barents Sea.

Launching the largest programme in history to discover life in our ocean

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There are estimated to be 2.2 million species in our ocean, yet only 240,000 have been described through rigorous scientific methods. Meaning roughly 90% of the ocean is still to be properly described.

To accelerate species discovery, the Nippon Foundation has launched the Ocean Census programme, a new global initiative focussed on finding at least 100,000 new marine species in the next decade. 

REV Ocean is contributing to this ambitious endeavour by providing state-of-the-art equipment, innovation, and people, to rapidly explore and better understand the ocean. 

This supports the 2022 Montreal Biodiversity agreement to protect 30% of our planet for conservation by 2030.

The launch event will take place April 27, 11:00 GMT.

What is Ocean Census?
Ocean Census is the largest programme in history to discover life in our ocean. It will herald a new era of pioneering research and scientific exploration to accelerate species discovery and protection. Recent technological advances in high-resolution imaging, DNA sequencing, and machine learning mean scientists can now massively accelerate the process. 
www.oceancensus.org 

Investigating seafloor health below the Hywind Tampen floating windfarm

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The purpose of this cruise, led by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) was to investigate pelagic and demersal fish, seabed, benthic habitat and physical oceanography in and outside Hywind Tampen floating wind farm. The cruise also installed the ObsFAD (FAD with sensors for monitoring the environment and fish). The observations will be used in the WindSys project to evaluate the potential impact of sea wind farms on the environment.

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