World’s largest superyacht overweight, very late

The REV Ocean project was the idea of a Norwegian businessman, with the vessel doubling as a research and exploration vessel, that would also carry an ocean-focussed environmental message to the world.

Stretching almost 183 metres long, and with a beam of 22.0 metres, the 17,440-tonne REV Ocean’s design includes an auditorium, a moonpool that gives direct access to the water from inside the ship, a pelagic trawling arm that can go as far as 2000 metres below the surface, seven tenders, an Airbus helicopter, a remote-control submarine rover and a three-seat submarine.

REV Ocean flagged in June last year that the shipyard building the superyacht was “experiencing delays”, but did not know how long that would be.

But now it does: it reckons up to five years late.

“Over the past year, the construction of the REV Ocean vessel has been beset by delays caused by the yard,” the team behind the boat said in a statement posted to its website announcing the delay.

“We have been hoping the situation would improve, but compounding issues are causing further setbacks. 

“We have not received a timeline for when a compliant ship will be delivered. Our own best estimate suggests a three- to five-year delay for when the vessel can be placed in operation. 

“This is related to technical and weight challenges, and the ship is as of today not in accordance with the specifications in the shipbuilding contract. 

“Delivery can first take place when the ship is able to conduct the research and expedition missions which the ship is intended for.”

Hanging over the shipyard is an escape clause that will allow the boat’s backers to pull out of the build, however, REV Ocean said this option “had not been used”.

Instead, it has stopped all ship-related development while it weighs up its options and tries to commercialise the technology that would have been built into the superyacht.

REV Ocean said it hoped to return to the ship once its build was “closer to completion”.