It is 8 metres (26 ft 3 in) longer than the Kaharoa and has increased capacity for staff, as well as laboratory and desk-based research.

In 2012 the University of Aberdeen's OceanLab expedition found 'supergiant amphipods' up to 34 centimetres (13 in) long in the Kermadec Trench, identified as the species Alicella gigantea.

[7][8] RV Kaharoa also contributed to the discovery of five new species of Fissuroderes, found off the coast of Costa Rica and the Firth of Thames.

[18] The ship is part of the International Argo Project, a float deployment scheme focussed on climate and oceanic data,[19] as well as the Global Drifter Program.

[20][21] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the crew of the Kaharoa undertook their longest voyage to date, to continue to support the deployment of Argo floats – work that had been delayed due to lockdown restrictions globally.