German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, right, is accompanied by Aker ASA chairman, Norwegian Kjell Inge Rokke during his visit at the company's site on Aug. 22, 2005, in Wismar, northern Germany.

(Jens Buettner/AFP/Getty Images)

At a Glance

Kjell Inge Røkke is using his fortune to build a 596-foot marine research ship.The ship will be capable of collecting up to 5 tons of plastic garbage in the world's oceans each day.

A former Norwegian fisherman turned self-made billionaire sayshe will give away most of his estimated $2.6 billion fortune to help clean up the world's oceans.

Kjell Inge Røkke told Norway's that he is using his money to build a 596-foot marine research ship in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund. The ship, which can support up to 60 scientists and 40 crew for exploration of the seas, will also be able to scoop up plastic trash from the seas, which will then be recycled.

"I want to give back to society the bulk of what I've earned," Røkke told Aftenposten. "This ship is a part of that."

Røkke noted that he gave the "the lion's share of his fortune"to build the Research ExpeditionVessel, which will have the capacity to collect up to 5 tons of plastic a day.

"The REV will be a platform for gathering knowledge," Røkke . "I would like to welcome researchers, environmental groups, and other institutions on board, to acquire new skills to evolve innovative solutions to address challenges and opportunities connected to the seas."

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Theship,which is expected to be operational by summer 2020, will be equipped with laboratories, an auditorium, two helipads, among other amenities.

A self-made billionaire, Røkke, who suffers from dyslexia and has no secondary or higher education, began his career working on Alaskan trawlers at the age of 18.

After heading several U.S. companies in Seattle in the 1980s,Røkke returnedto his native Norway to build the Aker shipping fleet.

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