The Falkor (too) ocean research vessel.
The Schmidt Ocean Institute has commissioned its new 110-metre-long, global-class research vessel the Falkor (too), for use by marine scientists worldwide to push the frontiers of deep-sea investigations.
Funded by Schmidt Ocean Institute founders Eric and Wendy Schmidt, the ship will embark on a series of expeditions and be available to scientists and technologists globally at no cost — all they have to do is make their research and discoveries publicly available.
The ship replaces the Institute’s previous research vessel, Falkor, which was in service for a decade and hosted more than 1,100 scientists, discovered over 50 new marine species and underwater formations, and mapped more than 1.3 million square kilometres of seafloor. Falkor spent quite a bit of time in Australian waters.
“The ocean is our planet’s last frontier, and the opportunities for exploration are immense,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder and president of Schmidt Ocean Institute.
The seven-deck Falkor (too) will offer scientists a modular platform to conduct almost any research at sea, with a 105-square-metre main laboratory in addition to seven other at-sea laboratories. The ship also features a 150-tonne crane, two moonpools, and equipment for high-resolution ocean depth mapping… which will contribute to the global effort to map the entire ocean floor by 2030.
The Falkor (too) began life as the M/V Polar Queen, an offshore industry vessel. It was acquired by the Schmidt Ocean Institute in 2021 and converted to a scientific research vessel.
