The "G.O. SARS" was awarded SKIPSREVYEN's "SHIP OF THE YEAR" for 2003. Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Ansgar Gabrielsen, announced the prize as he opened the Nor-Shipping 2003 Exhibition on 3rd June. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and the University of Bergen (UiB) joined forces when ordering the new fishery research vessel "G.O. SARS", which is possibly the most advanced research vessel in the world. The vessel was christened by Her Majesty Queen Sonja on the 7th of May 2003 in Bergen, but was handed over from the yard to the Owners already on the 25th April 2003.

"G.O. SARS" was delivered from Flekkefjord Slipp & Maskinfabrikk AS as yard no. 175, and the vessel is considered to be an asset in the future research when it comes to fisheries and environmental studies, seismic research and sea-floor explorations.

The newbuilding is named after one of Norway's most renowned marine biologist, Georg Ossian Sars (1837-1927). The new vessel is actually the third one bearing his name. Skipsteknisk AS, �lesund is responsible for the projection and design of "G.O. SARS". The strict noise criteria placed on this vessel are quite special, not to say unique. The vessel is noise reduced according to ICRS Co-operative Research Report no. 209. These requirements can be compared to the ones for submarines.

The ship is outfitted and prepared for fishery research operations including mapping of resources, trawling and acoustic research operations and environmental studies, seismic survey, exploring the ocean floor etc. "G.O. SARS" is rigged for both pelagic trawling and bottom trawling with separate winch systems. Two independent drop keels are equipped with a number of acoustic sensors for multi frequency acoustic sampling and species identification of fish. Other technological advances available on the new vessel is pictures with better data resolution enabling the researchers to study individual fish and thus gain more detailed knowledge of the marine environment.

The vessel offers the researchers unique new possibilities for studying how seismology relates to marine life. As seismic work often is believed to disturb fish stocks, it is in a way something of a paradox that the same ship can be highly equipped to conduct both fishery and seismic work. But this ship will actually be able to give answers as to how the seismic influences on the life at sea. "G.O. SARS" will also be an asset when it comes to research on the clima and process studies in northern waters.