KONGSBERG supports growing global research vessel activity

Research vessels remain a cornerstone of global ocean science, providing the platforms required for long-term observation of marine ecosystems, climate processes and deep-sea environments. In 2025, demand for such vessels and their onboard systems increased, driven by heightened attention to climate change, polar research and sustainable ocean management.

For decades, research fleets worldwide have relied on advanced marine technology from Kongsberg, particularly through its Discovery division, which supplies scientific instrumentation for oceanographic missions. During 2025, this demand translated into contracts valued at approximately 1.3 MNOK, reflecting continued investment in large, multi-purpose research platforms.

Modern research vessels function as mobile laboratories, enabling scientists to deploy instruments, collect samples and perform direct observations in challenging environments, from shallow coastal waters to deep-ocean basins and polar regions. The systems delivered in 2025 support both scientific accuracy and operational efficiency, allowing vessels to operate for extended periods while maintaining high data quality.

Delivered equipment included multibeam and single-beam echo sounders for shallow and deep water, a range of sonar systems, transducers and environmental monitoring sensors. While satellite-based observations provide valuable large-scale insights, in-situ measurements from research vessels remain essential for validating models and building long-term datasets used in climate science, fisheries management and marine biology.

Long-duration ecosystem studies in particular depend on the capabilities of large research vessels, which can integrate multiple sensing technologies and support multidisciplinary research teams. By enabling consistent data collection over many years, these platforms contribute to a deeper understanding of ocean dynamics and support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable marine resource management.

The sustained level of activity in 2025 indicates that research vessels will continue to play a central role in global ocean initiatives, as nations expand scientific programs aimed at understanding environmental change and protecting marine ecosystems.

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