RRS Sir David Attenborough

RRS Sir David Attenborough berthed in Liverpool, England
History
Falkland Islands
NameRRS Sir David Attenborough
NamesakeSir David Attenborough
OwnerNERC Research Ship Unit
OperatorBritish Antarctic Survey
Port of registryStanley, Falkland Islands
BuilderCammell Laird
Cost£200 million (2014)
Yard number1390
Laid down17 October 2016
Launched14 July 2018
Sponsored byCatherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Christened26 September 2019
Completed2 December 2020[1]
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics [3]
Tonnage
Length128.9 m (423 ft)
Beam24 m (79 ft)
Draught7 m (23 ft)
Depth11 m (36 ft)
Ice class
Installed power
  • 2 × Bergen B33:45L6A (2 × 3,600 kW)
  • 2 × Bergen B33:45L9A (2 × 5,400 kW)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) (maximum)
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) (cruising)
  • 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1 m (3 ft) ice
Range19,000 nautical miles (35,000 km; 22,000 mi) at 13 knots
Endurance60 days[5]
Crew
  • 28 crew
  • 60 scientists
  • 2 spare berths
Aircraft carriedFacilities for 2 helicopters

RRS Sir David Attenborough is a research vessel owned by the Natural Environment Research Council and operated by the British Antarctic Survey for the purposes of both research and logistic support.[6] The ship replaces a pair of existing vessels, RRS James Clark Ross and RRS Ernest Shackleton.[7] The vessel is named after broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

  1. ^ "British Antarctic Survey takes delivery of RRS Sir David Attenborough". British Antarctic Survey. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Sir David Attenborough (9798222)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  3. ^ Planet ice and the dual-functional Attenborough. The Naval Architect, January 2017. Pages 37–38.
  4. ^ RRS Sir David Attenborough, Technical Features. British Antarctic Survey.
  5. ^ a b Polar Research Vessel[permanent dead link]. Cammell Laird Shipyard. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  6. ^ "The next generation of polar research vessel". British Antarctic Survey. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  7. ^ Amos, Jonathon (14 July 2018). "Sir David Attenborough polar ship set for launch". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2018.