The government announced plans on 28 September 2026 to fund a new 85-metre research ship, to be built in UK shipyards and accommodate more than 40 people. According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the vessel was expected to become operational in 2031 or 2032, replacing the RV Cefas Endeavour, which has supported UK marine science since 2003 and is due to retire in the early 2030s.

The ship was intended to lead a new national system for monitoring UK seas, combining marine surveys, data and technology in one place. Planned work included assessing fish stocks, mapping the seabed, monitoring pollution and responding to marine incidents, using automation, robotics and artificial intelligence and running on clean fuels.

Defra said the UK's seas contributed more than £200 billion to the economy in 2021. Defra Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Anjali Goswami said investment in a next-generation vessel would help harness marine scientific understanding for decisions on water, food and energy security. Cefas CEO Tim Green called the investment significant for Cefas and UK marine science. Delivery was to be led by Cefas, based in Lowestoft and Weymouth, and the government said it expected to engage with the UK shipbuilding sector in the coming months to plan the next stage of procurement.