Royal Research Ship


A Royal Research Ship is a merchant navy vessel of the United Kingdom that conducts scientific research for Her Majesty's Government. Organisations operating such ships include; the Natural Environment Research Council, the British Antarctic Survey and the National Oceanography Centre. A warrant from the Queen is required before a ship can be designated as an RRS.

Relationship with the Royal Navy

In the 1950s and 1960s the Royal Research Ships of the day were owned by the Admiralty, partially managed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and run as ships of that fleet.
The work of the two Royal Research Ships operated by the British Antarctic Survey is complemented by a Royal Navy icebreaker, currently HMS Protector, which provides science logistics support to the British Antarctic Survey.

Current Royal Research Ships

All ships bear the prefix "RRS" - Royal Research Ship.
ShipEntered serviceDisplacementTypeOwnerOperatorNote
19905,732 tonnesResearch shipNatural Environment Research CouncilBritish Antarctic Survey
20075,800 tonnesResearch shipNatural Environment Research CouncilNational Marine Facilities Division, National Oceanography Centre
RRS Discovery20136,260 tonnesResearch shipNatural Environment Research CouncilNational Marine Facilities Division, National Oceanography Centre

RRS ''Sir David Attenborough''

On 25 April 2014 the government announced that £200 million would be invested in the construction of a new polar research vehicle, to replace Ernest Shackleton and James Clark Ross. The ship is to be built by Cammell Laird with construction expected to start in Autumn 2016. The new icebreaker will be designed with a helipad, on-board labs and the capability to deploy subs. The ship is due for completion in October 2019 and should enter service later that year.
On 17 March 2016, the Natural Environment Research Council launched a poll to name the ship. By 29 March 2016, the leading name was RRS Boaty McBoatface with more than 101,000 votes. When polling closed on 16 April 2016, the name had 124,000 votes, more than four times that of its nearest rival, RRS Poppy-Mai. Many more, if not most of the suggested names were in jest. Other top 10-finishers were RRS Its Bloody Cold Here, Usain Boat, Boatimus Prime, and I Like Big Boats & I Cannot Lie. Another popular name, RRS Blas de Lezo, attracted over 38,000 votes before it was removed from voting for being "liable to cause offence".
Jo Johnson, the Minister of State for Universities and Science, said that ministers were "unlikely to endorse the fantastic and very imaginative suggestions ... we want something that fits the mission and captures the spirit of scientific endeavour." In May 2016, it was announced that the new ship was to be named after the naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, while Boaty McBoatface would be retained as the name of one of the new ship's ROVs.
ShipEntering serviceDisplacementTypeOwnerOperatorNote
201912,790 tonnesResearch shipNatural Environment Research CouncilBritish Antarctic Survey

Notable former Royal Research Ships

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