RIYADH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology announced on Thursday that Spain’s Freire Shipyard will build its new research vessel, RV Thuwal II.

Freire, which has more than 100 years’ shipbuilding experience, will develop the ship at its yard in Vigo, Spain.

Upon the expected completion in 2026, RV Thuwal II will be Saudi Arabia’s first regional class research vessel, enabling complete access to the Red Sea, including coastal waters and the deep sea, KAUST said in a statement.

RV Thuwal II will become the flagship of the Saudi research vessel fleet and will be available to serve all marine research interests of the Kingdon, including from giga-projects and government ministries.

The vessel will explore coral reefs and other sites of interest, strengthening Saudi research and attracting new international partners.

With the Red Sea already of high interest to many scientific communities, the vessel will encourage more scientific collaboration, strengthening the Kingdom’s status as a scientific leader.

RV Thuwal II, which will be 50 meters in length and 12.8 meters in width with a draft of 3.6 meters, will be built to last 30 years.

Its modular design can house multiple types of experimental laboratories to serve existing and future marine technology for Red Sea exploration.

The vessel can also incorporate new green propulsion technologies to reduce carbon emissions.

In addition to its primary function as a research vessel, RV Thuwal II can also support national responses to emergencies like oil spills, and marine and aviation accidents in the Red Sea.

RV Thuwal II will have a capacity of 30 people including 12 crew.

The planning of RV Thuwal II has involved stakeholders in the Kingdom including giga-projects, ministries and Saudi universities with expertise in ocean science and marine operations.

“RV Thuwal II symbolizes KAUST’s commitment to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s research infrastructure and the exploration of the Red Sea. The ship will be accessible to partners with a shared interest in understanding the Red Sea and unlocking its vast potential,” said KAUST Vice President of Research Pierre Magistretti.

“It is an honor for Freire Shipyard to collaborate with KAUST in building the RV Thuwal II, a vessel that not only symbolizes KAUST’s commitment to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s research infrastructure and exploring the Red Sea, but also opens up new opportunities for scientific collaboration and technological advancement in the region,” said Marcos Freire Garcia, one of the director generals of Freire Shipyard.