The former research vessel “Viking Vision” is the fifth ship Laskaridis donates to the Navy after the donation of the 37-meter naval cadet training ship Kyknos in 2014 and in 2019-2021 the fleet support ships Atlas I (built in 1999, 70.4 meters long and 5,300 tons full load displacement) Hercules (built in 2002, 84 meters long and 6,900 tons full load displacement) and Aias (built in 2002, 83.3 meters long and 7,500 tons full load displacement), all three former platform supply vessels (PSV).
Built in 1993 and fully rebuilt and converted in 2007 at a cost of $50 million as a research vessel, the ship was operated by Eidesvik Shipping AS until 2017. Key features include a gross tonnage of 9,811 tons and a deadweight tonnage of about 5,052 tons and an overall length of 105m. She has a hybrid propulsion installation, electric propulsion with minimal acoustic signature, great excess of electrical power, reaching 11MW, maximum speed of 17 knots, the ability to transport and deliver at sea F-76 fuel of about 3,000 cubic meters, a helipad suitable for all single main rotor helicopter types of the Hellenic Armed Forces and though not equipped with the scientific equipment, she has capability to support seismic and geophysical research missions.