A sleek, black yacht that just launched is now the world’s largest superyacht. Take a look at the 600-foot vessel that’s owned by a Norwegian billionaire.

Bogdan Vasilescu

• The world’s largest superyacht, a 600-foot vessel owned by a Norwegian billionaire, just launched in Romania.
• The REV Ocean was designed to carry out scientific research expeditions with the goal of safeguarding the oceans.
• It will also be available for charter to help support the costs of the scientific research missions.
• The vessel’s billionaire owner, Kjell Inge Røkke, will also use the yacht personally, but he’ll pay to rent it like any other customer, according to a publicist for the REV Ocean.
• The REV Ocean dethroned the 590-foot Azzam, which held the record for largest yacht in the world for six years.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

The world’s largest superyacht, a 600-foot vessel owned by a Norwegian billionaire, just launched in Romania.

The REV Ocean dethroned the 590-foot Azzam, which had held the record for largest yacht in the world for six years.

Unlike most superyachts, the REV Ocean wasn’t only designed for luxury cruising. It was built to be a research vessel, carrying out scientific expeditions with the mission of safeguarding the world’s oceans. 

The yacht will, however, be available for charter to help support the cost of its scientific missions, a publicist for the REV Ocean told Business Insider. The REV Ocean, which is on its way to Norway to be outfitted, will be fully completed in 2020.

Take a look at the 600-foot, record-breaking superyacht.

At 600 feet, or 182.9 meters, long, the REV Ocean is the world’s largest superyacht.

Guillaume Plisson

It dethroned the 590-foot Azzam, which held the record for more than six years.

After 18 months of construction, the vessel was lowered into the water at the VARD Tulcea shipyard in Romania on August 24.

Guillaume Plisson

The REV Ocean was commissioned by Norwegian billionaire businessman Kjell Inge Røkke.

Røkke is worth an estimated $3.3 billion.

JENS BUETTNER/AFP/Getty Images

He owns almost 67% of Aker, a publicly traded shipping and offshore drilling conglomerate.

Røkke also started and funds a non-profit foundation, also called REV Ocean, that’s dedicated to safeguarding and preserving the oceans.

The Norwegian businessman is one of more than 200 wealthy individuals who have signed the Giving Pledge, promising to give away at least half of their fortune to charity.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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SEE ALSO: The 10 countries with the most superyachts in the world: RANKED

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Source: Business Insider – kwarren@businessinsider.com (Katie Warren)