Norway's Institute of Marine Research (IMR) has taken delivery of its new oceanographic icebreaker vessel Kronprins Haakon from Fincantieri.
The 9,000GT vessel, which measures 100 metres by 21 metres and has a speed up to 15 knots, will operate in polar waters.
Accommodating 55 people in 38 cabins, Kronprins Haakon will be used by research personnel, students and crew.
Capable of hosting two helicopters at its bow hangar, Kronprins Haakon has complex instrumentation that can be used to investigate the morphology and geology of the seabed.
The vessel, which will be completed at Vard Langsten by June, will be shared among the Arctic University of Norway (50 per cent of cruise time), the Norwegian Polar Institute (30 per cent) and IMR (20 per cent).
