RRS Sir David Attenborough
Artist's impression of vessel
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | RRS Sir David Attenborough |
| Namesake: | Sir David Attenborough |
| Owner: | NERC Research Ship Unit |
| Operator: | British Antarctic Survey |
| Builder: | Cammell Laird |
| Cost: | Approx £200m |
| Yard number: | 1390 |
| Laid down: | 17 October 2016 |
| In service: | 2019 (planned) |
| Status: | Under construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 1,500 GT |
| Length: | 128.9 m (423 ft) |
| Beam: | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Draught: | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Depth: | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Ice class: | PC 5 (hull and rudder PC 4) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) (cruising) 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1 m (3 ft) ice |
| Crew: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 1 helicopter |
RRS Sir David Attenborough is the name given to a new research vessel owned by the Natural Environment Research Council, to be operated by the British Antarctic Survey for the purposes of both research and logistic support. In this, the ship is intended to replace a pair of existing vessels, RRS James Clark Ross and RRS Ernest Shackleton.
In 2014, the UK Government announced funding for the construction of a new polar research vessel for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to replace a pair of existing ships. This new ship was intended not only to be fully equipped with the latest instrumentation for the purposes of carrying out research in polar regions, for which it would have an improved icebreaking capability and greater endurance over the existing polar research vessel, but also to serve as a logistic support vessel for BAS teams in inshore locations.
BAS contracted Houlder Ltd to undertake the basic design in which suggestions for the final configuration of the new ship were taken. Following the consultation period, in 2015, Rolls-Royce Holdings was selected to execute the detailed design and Cammell Laird in Birkenhead was selected as the preferred bidder to construct the ship.
The ship will be about 125 metres (410 ft) long, with a beam of about 24 metres (79 ft). Her draught will be about 7 metres (23 ft). Her cruising speed will be 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) with a range of 19,000 nautical miles (35,000 km; 22,000 mi) at that speed. She will be capable of carrying a helicopter and will have a capacity for approximately 900 cubic metres (32,000 cu ft) of cargo. The ship will have the capacity to break through ice 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) thick at a speed of 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph). Accommodation will be provided for 30 crew and 60 research staff.
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Wikipedia