[7] A high-end research vessel, Kronprins Haakon has an extensive scientific outfit for oceanography, marine biology, and geology.

One of the primary users of the new Norwegian polar research vessel is the Nansen Legacy project which will include over 370 ship-days by 2020 primarily on Kronprins Haakon.

[15] In July 2019, one of Kronprins Haakon's propulsion units developed a lubricating oil leak during icebreaking operations north of Svalbard, forcing the research vessel to cancel a scientific cruise ahead of schedule and return to Norway for repairs.

There were no visible signs of damage and the repairs consisted of tightening the bolts in both port and starboard propulsion units and securing them with thread-locking fluid.

[17] On 28 July 2022, Kronprins Haakon arrived at the North Pole for the first time,[18] becoming the second Norwegian vessel (after NoCGV Svalbard) to reach the northernmost point on the Earth.

[19] Although the ice conditions were reportedly easier than expected,[18] the research vessel was sailing together with the French icebreaking cruise ship Le Commandant Charcot operated by Compagnie du Ponant.

[20] On 11 and 12 September 2023, while being followed by the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel Barentshav (W340) in the Fram Strait, the Russian spy ship Yantar closely followed Kronprins Haakon for 16.5 hours.

[N 1] The Russian ship was operating without AIS and would overtly copy all of Kronprins Haakon's stops and movements, at one point closing to a distance of 200–370 metres.