RV Kronprins Haakon

RV "Kronprins Haakon" has a cruising speed of 15 knots and is capable of breaking through ice up to one metre thickness. "Kronprins Haakon" represents a state-of-the-art for research vessels.

The ship is owned by the Norwegian Polar Institute while the time available for research is divided between three Norwegian institutions as follows:

• 50% UiT The Arctic University of Norway 
• 30% Norwegian Polar Institute
• 20% Institute of Marine Research (operating)

The Institute of Marine Research is also the operationally responsible organization. 

The Norwegian government decided in October 2012 to build a new ice-going vessel. The ship was designed by Rolls Royce Marine, built by the Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri, and was launched in Italy in February 2017. On January 2, 2018, FF “Kronprins Haakon” arrived in Bergen. After testing and completion in Norway, the vessel started its first regular expedition to the Arctic Ocean in August 2018.

“Kronprins Haakon” was christened by Princess Ingrid Alexandra on November 17, 2018, in Tromsø. In January 2019, the vessel embarked on its first expedition to Antarctica.

See the article: The Kronprins Haakon sails for the Antarctic (january 2019)