The UK government has announced funding for a new 85-metre research vessel that will support the next generation of UK marine science and monitoring.

Operated by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the vessel will replace the RV Cefas Endeavour and form part of a new national system for monitoring the UK’s seas. It will support activities including fish stock assessments, seabed mapping, pollution monitoring and rapid response to marine incidents.

The vessel will integrate technologies such as automation, robotics and artificial intelligence, and will be designed to operate on clean fuels to reduce its environmental impact. Expected to enter service in 2031 or 2032, it will build on Cefas’ more than 125 years of marine research and support future monitoring and management of the UK’s marine environment.

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