Vard has officially begun construction of RV6000, a highly advanced 100-meter research vessel being built for Inkfish, the marine research and ocean exploration organization backed by Valve co-founder Gabe Newell. The keel laying ceremony recently took place at Vard’s shipyard in Brăila, Romania, marking the transition from design and engineering into full-scale construction on what is shaping up to be one of the most sophisticated privately funded scientific vessels ever commissioned.
The vessel’s development traces back to early 2024, when Vard, Inkfish, and UK-based technical representative YTMC began collaborating on the design, according to Boat International, while the contract for construction was formally signed in July 2025. The project, valued at more than €200 million (around $230 million), forms part of Inkfish’s broader ambition to expand its deep-ocean exploration capabilities.
Once completed, RV6000 will join the organization’s growing fleet of research vessels and serve as a dedicated platform for scientific discovery, seafloor mapping, subsea operations, and long-duration expeditions into some of the least explored regions of the planet.
A floating research institute for the deep ocean
The construction strategy reflects Vard’s established approach to complex vessel building. The hull will be assembled in Romania before being transferred to Vard’s Søviknes facility on Norway’s west coast for final outfitting, commissioning, and delivery. While the steel structure may take shape in Brăila, the vessel’s true sophistication will emerge in Norway, where its extensive scientific systems, hybrid propulsion architecture, laboratories, mission spaces, and subsea technologies will be installed.
Designed around Vard’s Vard 9 33 platform, RV6000 has been developed specifically for deep-ocean exploration and high-resolution seafloor mapping. The vessel will carry a world-class hydroacoustic survey suite capable of analyzing both the seabed and the water column throughout the full depth of the ocean. This allows scientists not only to map underwater terrain in extraordinary detail but also to study marine life, geological activity, and oceanographic phenomena occurring between the surface and the seafloor.
The vessel’s subsea capabilities are equally impressive. RV6000 will support two manned submersibles and remotely operated vehicles capable of operating at depths of up to 6,000 meters, giving researchers access to the vast majority of the world’s ocean floor. A stern-mounted A-frame, dedicated hangar facilities, and an advanced offshore crane equipped with active heave compensation will enable the deployment and recovery of equipment in demanding conditions. These smart lifting systems are capable of lowering robotic exploration vehicles to depths approaching two Mount Everests stacked one atop the other, allowing scientists to investigate some of the darkest and most inaccessible environments on Earth.
What makes RV6000 particularly distinctive is the balance it strikes between cutting-edge science and exceptional onboard comfort. Designed to accommodate up to 70 people, including crew, researchers, engineers, and expedition specialists, the vessel will feature state-of-the-art laboratories, workshops, offices, and collaborative workspaces alongside recreational facilities intended to support long missions at sea.
Vard has placed considerable emphasis on habitability, incorporating low-noise and low-vibration technologies that meet demanding comfort standards. Combined with advanced stabilization systems, hybrid propulsion, dynamic positioning capability, and a dedicated helicopter deck, the result is a vessel engineered not only to perform complex scientific missions but also to provide a comfortable and sustainable working environment for those living aboard for weeks at a time.
Scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2028, RV6000 represents more than just another research vessel entering service. It reflects a growing trend of privately funded exploration initiatives operating at a scale once reserved for national research agencies. Through Inkfish, Gabe Newell is helping create a new generation of oceanographic platforms that combine the capabilities of a deep-sea research ship with the refinement, comfort, and operational sophistication typically associated with the world’s most advanced expedition vessels.
