Research VesselsThe Fleet is InA wave of new and innovative research vessels are set to help scientists enhance their understanding of the oceans. MTR pro? les several of these ships currently in designe and construction across the globe.China’s Polar RVAker ArcticRRS Sir David Attenborough RV Kronprins Haakon The U.K.’s new polar research ship rose to fame when A new oceanographic icebreaker being built for the Norwe-Boaty McBoatface took the internet by storm as the leading gian Polar Institute (NPI) was launched by shipbuilder Fin-vote getter in an online naming contest. The U.K.’s Natural cantieri in Italy earlier this year. The $177 million vessel, RV Environment Research Council (NERC) eventually chose to Kronprins Haakon, due for delivery by the end of 2017, will call the ship RRS Sir David Attenborough, a name better