In April 2014 The Chancellor announced that the Government would fund a new £200 million polar research vessel to put UK scientists at the forefront of climate and ocean research in both Antarctica and the Arctic.
This ship, and the suite of modernisation projects which support it, represents the largest Government investment in Antarctic and Arctic science infrastructure since the 1980s. Commissioned by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), procured by UKSBS, built by Cammell Laird and operated by British Antarctic Survey, this new research platform will transform how ship-borne science is conducted in the Polar Regions. The RRS Sir David Attenborough will deliver world-leading capability for UK research in both Antarctica and the Arctic.
Visualisation of the RRS Sir David Attenborough
The RRS Sir David Attenborough will deliver three core benefits for the UK:
The New Polar Ship Programme is major Government investment to enhance and modernise the UK’s polar research activities. The commission of the new ship, and the suite of infrastructure projects at Antarctic research stations and elsewhere, is governed by a Programme Board, Chaired by NERC’s Chief Operating Office who is the Senior Responsible Officer for the programme. Senior managers from across NERC and BAS, together with representatives from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Cammell Laird, UKSBS and Houlder Ltd serve on this board.
In November 2015 NERC Chief Operating Officer Paul Fox and Cammell Laird Chief Executive, John Syvret CBE sign new ship contract
Two Project Management Offices (PMO), one within NERC and the other within BAS, work collaboratively to deliver this programme. Each PMO has distinct but complimentary roles.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough began construction at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead in 2016. The illustration below demonstrates the sequence in which the ship was assembled from several blocks.
As of April 2016, a total of more than 1,800 tonnes of steel were fabricated for the hull of the ship; this is more than a third of the total. The two main propulsion motors, designed by Rolls-Royce and weighing 115 tonnes each, were installed successfully.
The ship is equipped with bow and stern thrusters, allowing it to navigate in close quarters and to maintain position in rough seas, enabling scientific work to continue even in challenging conditions. The stern thrusters, manufactured by North East England company Tees White Gill, have been installed into the hull – they each weigh 15 tonnes, stand 3m high and produce 1,576 kW of thrust.
The new ship will have a greater capability to break and travel through polar sea ice than the existing UK polar research ship. It will also be able to stay at sea for longer and carry more scientists and technicians. This increased capability and endurance will enable UK scientists to undertake research safely and efficiently in previously inaccessible ice-covered areas of the polar oceans, and also in currently accessible areas during winter when ice-cover might otherwise prevent access.
The new ship will be able better to exploit UK marine robotics capability through deployment of a new generation of autonomous and remotely-operated vehicles in polar regions. It will also incorporate enhanced communications and data handling capabilities to enable real-time data delivery and remote UK-based instrument operation. As an analogy, it will be the equivalent of an aircraft carrier, acting as a central platform controlling deployed instrumentation in a surrounding theatre of science operation. This enables efficient and optimal use of research resources and time.
The new ship will be a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary science platform and the UK’s largest and most advanced research vessel. It will enable cutting-edge science across a broad range of disciplines (physical, biological and chemical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, and atmospheric science) required to understand the impact of a changing polar environment on our planet. In so doing it will help maintain the UK at the forefront of polar research.
Operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the ship will not only be the platform for British Antarctic Survey’s science teams, it will be available to the whole UK research base including postgraduate students. Its greater endurance will enable longer voyages, which coupled with the use of collaborators’ helicopters will ensure significantly greater geographic coverage.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough Programme Board is chaired by the NERC Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), who takes executive responsibility for decisions relating to the Programme. The SRO is responsible for providing approvals and decisions affecting progress and delivery throughout the Programme. Paul Fox, Chief Operating Officer at NERC, is the SRO for the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The other members of the Board represent those senior managers who have an interest in the Programme and whose activities will be affected by the Programme; these individual also represent the end users in order to promote their concerns and interests.
The Programme Board members are:
| Paul Fox | NERC | Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) |
| Nigel Bird | NERC | Senior User – Owner |
| Dr Ray Leakey | NERC/SAMS | Senior User – Science |
| Capt Tim Stockings | BAS | Senior User – Operator |
| Linton Roberts | Cammell Laird | Senior Supplier |
| Bairbre Kelly | BEIS | BEIS Sponsorship Representative |
| Paul Tritton | BEIS | BEIS Programme Delivery Assurance |
| Alison Robinson | NERC | Stakeholder Engagement |
The following people normally attend Board meetings to report on current issues and on the delivery of specific programme work streams:
| Andy Jeffries | BAS (NERC) | Programme Manager |
| David Seaton | BAS | Project Manager |
| Andy Barker | BAS | Project Manager |
| John Nicholson | BAS (NERC) | Project Liaison Officer |
| Allan Evett | UK SBS | Procurement Advisor |
| Daniella Durston | NERC | Finance Lead |
| Pat Brown | Houlder | Commercial Advisor |
| Mike Simpson | Houlder | Technical Advisor |
| Linda Capper | BAS | Communications Lead |
| Andrew Lee | BAS | Business Development Manager |
| Randy Sliester | BAS | Ship Operations Manager |
Additional experts may be invited to attend as necessary to provide input to decisions made by the SRO and the Board on such subjects as naval architecture, operations, science, engineering, finance, legal issues, commercial issues and procurement.
Last week, the team aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough produced the first significant scientific data set with the ship’s oceanography equipment – a significant milestone in the life of […]
The RRS Sir David Attenborough has begun its polar science trials in Antarctica. A team of 30 national and international scientists, engineers and technical staff are working on the ship […]
At British Antarctic Survey, the next chapter in shipborne research is about to begin. Britain’s new polar ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, has been undergoing an intensive programme of […]
Jon Ager joined British Antarctic Survey as Director of the UK Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme in 2019, after serving for almost 35 years in the Royal Air Force and aerospace […]
Guest Blog. UKRI-NERC’s Nigel Bird reflects on the highs and lows of the commission of RRS Sir David Attenborough.
Ship Communication Officer checks out construction progress
Paul Fox, Senior Responsible Officer for RRS Sir David Attenborough, has written a guest blog for a behind-the-scenes look at NERC’s commission of a new polar research ship for Britain and the associated Antarctic infrastructure modernisation programme.
The Antarctic field season has started, with over 600 people beginning the journey South to work on over 60 projects on station and in the field.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for the first time on the RRS Sir David Attenborough, as an alternative to conventional diesel fuel, as part of […]
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will enable ships navigating in polar ocean conditions to be more efficient using a new route planning tool created by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers. The tool […]
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) field season has finished for another year. RRS Sir David Attenborough departed Rothera Research Station for the final time earlier in May and is […]
Britain’s new polar research vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, has travelled to Antarctica on its maiden voyage, with its first call today (17 December) at Rothera Research Station – […]
Britain’s new polar research ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, departs the UK this week for its maiden voyage to Antarctica. It will leave Harwich today (16 November), with 66 […]
Explore polar science and engineering from your home with the Ice Worlds Festival online resources. On the eve of the UN COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, British Antarctic Survey has […]
RRS Sir David Attenborough visits London as pre-COP event ahead of first mission to Antarctica. The UK’s new polar research ship is making its London debut in Greenwich (Thursday 28 October […]
The UK and Australia’s two new polar research ships get together off the coast of Falmouth during sea trials.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough (SDA) is getting ready for its next round of sea trials. This is an important part of the preparations for the ship’s first Antarctic mission. The […]
CAMBRIDGE: British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is today notifying the UK marine polar research community of its intention to re-schedule RRS Sir David Attenborough’s (SDA) ice trials, science capability and equipment […]
A new unmanned robotic vehicle on the RRS Sir David Attenborough will help scientists to understand the impact of glaciers on sea-level rise.
Today (Monday 1 March 2021) the RRS James Clark Ross (JCR) makes her final call to her home port of the Falkland Islands. After 30 years of service, the JCR will be sold at the end of her 20/21 Antarctic season. […]
On Sunday 7 February 2021 the UK’s most advanced polar research ship – RRS Sir David Attenborough – left Holyhead for sea trials.
The new polar research ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough begins technical trials
EXETER. There is great excitement this week for British Antarctic Survey and the RRS Sir David Attenborough as Captain Will Whatley and Chief Engineer Luke Parnell put the cargo tender […]
In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the first sighting of Antarctica by the British naval officer Edward Bransfield on this date in 1820, a new building to facilitate the […]
BIRKENHEAD. The RRS Sir David Attenborough achieved two important milestones at Cammell Laird’s shipyard this month with the commissioning and testing of lifeboats and power systems. The ship is in […]
The UK’s new polar research ship is formally named the RRS Sir David Attenborough today [Thursday 26 September] by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In their first engagement of […]
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Sir David Attenborough will attend the Royal Ceremonial Naming of the New Polar Research Ship at the Cammell Laird shipyard on Thursday 26 […]
ANTARCTICA: At the onset of the Antarctic winter British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station bids farewell to 50 construction workers. They have spent the last six months building the […]
New polar ship takes to the water once again
BIRKENHEAD. The superstructure of the new polar research ship for Britain, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, is now on top of the hull. Following the launch of the RRS Sir […]
The majestic red hull of the RRS Sir David Attenborough glided in the River Mersey on Saturday 14 July. The launch button was pressed by the naturalist and broadcaster Sir […]
RRS Sir David Attenborough hull launch into River Mersey 14 July Update 20 July 2018 – watch video of launch A major milestone in the build of the UK’s state-of-the-art […]
The RRS Sir David Attenborough (SDA) just got another step closer to completion as the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) investigated the aerodynamic performance of Britain’s new polar research vessel using a computer generated ‘virtual wind tunnel’
Rolls-Royce is marking a major milestone on the journey towards the completion of Britain’s new polar research vessel the RRS Sir David Attenborough being built by Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird.
The “stern section” of the new polar research ship for Britain, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, arrived at Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead this weekend (27 August 2017). The video […]
A major feat of engineering takes place this week (21 August) as the “stern section” of the new polar research ship for Britain, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, is transported […]
Researchers have captured unprecedented data about some of the coldest abyssal ocean waters on earth – known as Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) – during the first voyage of the yellow […]
The unmanned submersible Boaty McBoatface was deployed in the Antarctic for the first time.
Construction expert BAM has been chosen to partner with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to modernise UK Antarctic and other research facilities, enabling British scientists to continue delivering world class research […]
Keel-laying ceremony at Cammell Laird
Technical advisor appointment
UK’s £200m Polar Research Ship to be named after Sir David Attenborough, days before the broadcaster’s 90th birthday “Boaty McBoatface” to live on as the name of the ship’s high-tech […]
The contract for the UK’s new polar research ship was signed NERC’s Chief Operating Office Paul Fox and Cammell Laird Chief Executive, John Syvret CBE on Friday 19 November 2015 […]
Government announces preferred bidder to build new polar ship Minister of State for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson announced today that the preferred bidder to build a new polar research […]
New polar research ship for UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP announced this week (Friday 25 April 2014) that the Government has earmarked more than […]
Our state-of-the-art polar science ship provides scientists access to remote and challenging marine environments across the Antarctic and Arctic.
