V.Ships Leisure is to manage Kjell Inge Rokke's $350m new research and expedition vessel.

The 16,000-gt Research Expedition Vessel (REV) will be the largest such ship ever built, more than twice the length of most others.

The company said it will partner the owner's REV Ocean foundation.

The ship is due from Vard's Brattvag yard in 2021.

It will run on diesel electric engines, with an additional 3MW lithium-ion battery pack.

Per Bjornsen, V.Ships Leisure director, said: “While the maritime industry endeavours to reduce carbon emissions across its global fleet, it’s also imperative that we continue to look at the whole picture, both inside and outside of our industry, if we are to build towards a better and more sustainable future.

"With this in mind, we have made it our goal at V.Group to go beyond helping our customers to meet regulation, to leading the fight for cleaner shipping."

The ship was ordered in 2017 by Rokke's Rosellinis Four-10. No financial terms were disclosed at that time.

Rokke said then: “I'll give back to society the lion's share of what I've earned. This ship is a part of that."

Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean, added on Monday: “At REV Ocean our mission is to make a true difference in improving the state of our ocean. To achieve this, we need to work together and establish partnerships with other leading institutions and organisations with similar goals and values, primarily a commitment to sustainability and the future health of our planet."

The vessel has the capacity to take 60 scientists and 30 crew onboard.