Research Vessel

A research vessel is a ship outfitted for scientific work at sea, spanning oceanographic, fisheries, hydrographic, geophysical, and polar research. It carries laboratories, winches, A-frames, and over-the-side or moonpool deployment for CTD rosettes, corers, sonar, and remotely operated or autonomous vehicles, often with dynamic positioning for station-keeping. Fisheries research vessels run acoustic and trawl surveys to estimate stock biomass under regional management bodies. Many are state-funded and operated by national agencies or academic fleets such as the US UNOLS fleet; specialized classes include icebreaking research vessels (IBRV) for polar work.