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IMR's Research Vessel Department


Johan Hjort

The Research Vessel Department manages and operates IMR's research vessels "G.O. Sars", "Johan Hjort", "G.M. Dannevig" and our new coastal research vessel "Prinsesse Ingrid Alexandra". 

In addition, IMR also manages and operates RV "Hans Brattström", owned by the University of Bergen, "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen", owned by Norad, "Kronprins Haakon", owned by the Norwegian Polar Institute, and “Hydrograf” owned by the Norwegian Mapping Authority. 

RV "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" was built in Spain and arrived Bergen/Norway January 2017. The vessel's first cruise started from Casablanca in West Africa in May 2017. This vessel will mostly operate along the coast off Africa and in the Indian Ocean.

The research icebreaker "Kronprins Haakon" was launched in Italy in 2017. After tests in Norway, RV "Kronprins Haakon" set for its first scientific expedition to the Barents Sea August 2018, and to Antarctica January 2019.

The Research Vessel Department's main tasks

• Staff, maintain and equipe vessels owned and/or operated by the Institute of Marine Research
• Acquire, maintain and operate scientific equipment used in the vessels
• Storage, maintenance and calibration of equipment
• Enter agreements for renting vessels as required