FS Marjata
FS Marjata IV is a Norwegian research vessel for the Norwegian Armed Forces, which was ordered by the parliament in 2010. It was baptized on 6 December 2014 by Prime Minister Erna Solberg. The ship shall be manned by crew from the Norwegian Intelligence Service.
The ship is the fourth bearing the name Marjata. The first was operative in the period 1966-1975, the second in the period 1976-1995 and the third 1995-(still operating, but was renamed FS Eger).
The Norwegian parliament granted in 2009 money to invest in a new intelligence vessel. The Norwegian Armed Forces Logistics Organization announced the project in 2011, and the company Vard Langsten was given the contract after competing with several other Norwegian shipyards. The hull is built by Vard Tulcea in Romania, while Vard Langsten in Tomrefjorden in Romsdal will complete the ship.
The instalment of the technical equipment took place from April to November 2015 at a US naval station in Virginia.
The vessel had a cost framework of NOK 1.5 billion. Some sources say $ 1.2 billion, but the cost frame has subsequently increased from 1,246 billion to NOK 1,379 billion. The new ship will be 126 meters long and 23.5 meters wide. Marjata will came into operation in 2016 and its expected to sail with courses for the northern areas during spring 2016.
Previously, these ships are called research ships, but Marjata IV is the first to also officially conduct intelligence as well. On some mission she has been accompanied by her predecessor the FS Eger, these missions are often intelligence or spy missions. The ship has neither weapons nor any helicopters onboard.