The NVC 395 POLAR ship will be designed for operations in waters covered by ice up to 1m thick and is classified to Polar 10 ice class. The contract is with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, but all Norwegian research institutes involved in polar research will be involved in both development and use of the vessel.

Einar Vegsund, Rolls-Royce design manager, said, 'The Institute has sought creativity in our design and we have drawn on our expertise in such ships to deliver a solution for a technology intensive vessel that can operate in the harshest environments.'

Rolls-Royce will draw on a heritage of ship design which now totals more than 800 ships either built or on order. These include a number of Arctic patrol vessels operated by Danish and Norwegian navies and Icelandic coastguard.

The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Polar Institute act as consultant to Norwegian authorities, contributing to the maintenance of administration standards in Norwegian waters and polar areas to ensure they remain some of the best preserved wilderness areas in the world.