Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt transformed a former fisheries protection vessel into a philanthropic ocean research platform that, by 2022, had hosted more than 1,000 scientists and mapped over 1.3 million square kilometres of the ocean floor. The vessel, named Falkor, was originally built in 1981 as a fishery protection ship, according to Schmidt Ocean Institute. It was acquired by the Schmidts in 2009 when they founded the Schmidt Ocean Institute, an organisation focused on advancing oceanographic research and exploration.
After undergoing an extensive two-year refit, Falkor was converted into what the institute described as the world’s first year-round philanthropic research vessel made available to scientists at no cost.
Falkor completed 81 research expeditions and hosted 1,056 international scientists during its time in service, according to the institute. The ship travelled a distance equivalent to more than 12 trips around the world while supporting marine research projects across multiple oceans.
Schmidt Ocean Institute didn’t step back from ocean research after donating Falkor — instead, it transitioned to an even larger vessel, Falkor (too), which launched in early fall 2022 after being outfitted with what the organization described as some of the most sophisticated maritime technology available. At 110 metres, the new ship is significantly larger than its predecessor, and has continued the Institute’s core mission: operating the world’s only year-round philanthropic research vessel made available to the international scientific community entirely free of cost.