The UK’s state-of-the-art fleet of research vessels is set to receive a significant boost, thanks to a £45mn funding injection announced by Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani.
This funding, which has been awarded to Babcock International by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is a key part of the government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, which aims to invest in and support the country’s prestigious shipbuilding industry.
The £45 million contract will be used to carry out necessary maintenance and upgrades on three ships – the RRS Sir David Attenborough, the RRS Discovery, and the RRS James Cook – which are involved in conducting cutting-edge scientific research into our oceans and polar regions.
Showcasing what Rosyth can do
The initial three-year contract, with the option to extend for an additional two years, is to carry out programmed maintenance and upgrade work on the fleet of large oceanographic and polar research vessels. The contract, which has been secured by the company with the support of the NERC, will see the vessels dock at Babcock’s state-of-the-art facilities in Rosyth, Scotland, where they will undergo a range of maintenance and improvement activities.
This contract represents a major opportunity for Babcock to showcase its expertise at Rosyth in the maritime industry, and to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the UK’s research efforts. The company’s facilities in Rosyth are equipped with the latest technology and equipment, and are staffed by a highly skilled and experienced team, making them well-suited to the task of maintaining and upgrading these important research vessels.
Industry and Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani said:
“RRS Sir David Attenborough and its maiden voyage to Antarctica inspired the explorer in all of us, venturing into some of the world’s most unforgiving climates, while conducting vital scientific research on pressing global issues like sea level rise and marine biodiversity. This research is invaluable, which is why we are committing the funding needed for the upkeep of these key research vessels, drawing on Rosyth Shipyard’s proven track record of excellent work maintaining UK ships.”
Defence Secretary and Shipbuilding Tsar, Ben Wallace, said:
“This is another fantastic example of the National Shipbuilding Strategy delivering for British industry and boosting investment in UK yards. A cornerstone of British shipbuilding, Rosyth is already home to a number of major build and maintenance contracts, bringing a wealth of expertise and experience to the British shipbuilding sector.”
Not their first rodeo
Professor Sir Duncan Wingham, Executive Chair of NERC, part of UK Research and Innovation, said:
“The UK’s fleet of advanced research ships provide state-of-the-art facilities for scientists to conduct research of our oceans and polar regions, building our understanding of the ice, atmosphere, and seas. We look forward to working with Babcock Rosyth to maintain these ships and onboard facilities, which are a key part of the UK’s scientific infrastructure.”
Babcock Rosyth is a leading provider of maritime support, and where maintenance, repairs and upgrades are also carried out on the UK Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers.
David Lockwood, Babcock CEO, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to maintain this important NERC fleet. Our flexible and efficient solution will ensure the fleet is maintained to exceptional standards and optimise vessel availability in support of NERC’s global footprint.”
Tom Chant, CEO of the Society of Maritime Industries, said:
“Congratulations to Babcock on this important business win. The Rosyth base has already benefitted from the investment for the Type 31 project. This has developed the workforce and their skill base and created a world beating shipyard. The skills and facilities at Rosyth will be a great match for the NERC vessels with their specialist requirements and tough expeditionary voyages.”
These are the voyages…
The RRS Sir David Attenborough is a state-of-the-art polar research vessel operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). It recently embarked on a six-month expedition to Antarctica, during which it will be testing a new artificial intelligence system designed to chart the most environmentally-friendly route.
The RRS Discovery (2013) and RRS James Cook (2006) are operated by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and are involved in oceanic exploration around the world, conducting multidisciplinary marine science to study the deep ocean. Following a refit, the RRS Discovery will be heading to the Arctic for research with the University of Liverpool and NERC, while the RRS James Cook will continue its research expeditions to various locations around the globe.
These vessels are essential in helping scientists to address global issues such as climate change and pollution, and their maintenance and improvement is crucial in ensuring that they can continue to carry out this important work.
I don’t know if I’ve maybe watched too much James Bond here, but… these are probably conducting clandestine intelligence ops right? I mean I can’t imagine HMG would spend so much money on solely research ships while they pinch pennies on the RN and RFA
Unlikely. They spend most of their time in the far south, which as yet is not a focus for much conflict, stand fast the Falklands. They will no doubt conduct oceanographic research on their way to and from, which will perhaps be fed into the data for submarine ops in the Atlantic. They are probably not fitted for any EW work, that will routinely be done by RN ships and by the RAF Rivet joint aircraft.
Cheers
Mr bond we have captured a new type of plankton. We think Evil agent fish finger is going to use them to attack the uk. 😂😂😂😂😂
Wrong vessels I think, not sure the Antarctic Survey would be involved.
I’ve long suspected the other survey vessels though, Echo, Enterprise.
Beyond that, SSN, T23, T45 all have an Intel capability.
Historically though, I’d read the older HMS Endurance had some interesting stuff on the roof when visiting South American ports, so not out of the question for the Antarctic Patrol Ship.
HMS Scott spends loads of time keeping itself to itself, of course. Still surveying at least as intensively as before for now. Talk of utilising drones to take over, I believe. But since all’s in such a state of flux right now, who knows?
I see Scott more as supporting our subs than conducting overseas port visits and loitering in littoral waters where some extra sigint overtime might be conducted, like I believe the Es did.
But yes who knows. Least of all me.
COuld the relatively high investment be seen as maintaining our “stake” in the Antarctic? I know everyone’s agreed not to dig it up at the moment, but probably worth spending some money to not let our claim fade away.
Quite possibly Joe. And I support it, we have a stake there and need to maintain it.
Nice to see old “Boaty Mc…”. Anyone know why there’s a triple-level bridge?
So, once again….so much for the NATIONAL Shipbuilding Strategy ..all going to Scotland & Northern Ireland and English yards get what ???
Oh yes, Cammell Laird gets to repaint a secondhand merchant ship for the RFA and Appledore get to knock-up some bits of section for a Spanish-Northern Ireland venture. This ‘Levelling-Down’ of ENGLAND has to stop. The one bright ‘English Star’ is at Barrow-in-Furness but it wont be long before more Union-Enforcing bribery work is transferred ‘North of the Border’ to ‘Scottish Babcock’.
Maybe it is time for an English National Party and our own Referendum.
Expanding Essential Infrastructure. Our fully operational shipyards could well find they’re given all the work they can handle, courtesy of – well, need I spell it out.
The only manufacturing aspect I’m askance over is manned submarines. Whole different challenge.
Whose “… Essential Infrastructure…’ ? As far as I am aware only Scottish yards have received direct Westminster funding for infrastructure expansion and Harland & Woolf Belfast will receive the same via the FRSS contract. The BAE Ship Hall lays largely idle in Portsmouth Harbour but let no one imagine for one moment that any prospective Type 32 could not be built in an English yard; unless, of course, they are stripped of all meaningful orders other than hull painting and knocking up bits of steel section – but -then that’s the game isn’t it ? I literally pray for… Read more »
Because T32 can’t be built in English yards. None of them have the ability to bid for it.
It was an obvious decision for BAE to close the Portsmouth yard because they had to close one and the other two are much closer to each other.
Barrow is building all subs…
” None of them have the ability”…..really, so when BAE & Cammell Laird put their joint bid in for their T31 option they didn’t have the “ability” to build a frigate …..interesting. Secondly, I go back to my point about the multi-million direct Westminster investment in the BAE Clyde and Babcock of Rosyth yards – largely English taxpayers money funding Scottish yards to give them an ‘ability’.. One BAE Scotland didn’t have when they were super-glueing rivets on a Batch-2 River Class. As for Portsmouth, I lived there – we all knew the truth, pure political expediency and, at the… Read more »
You need a wee hug fella? aaand relax 👍
Good Morning, Clive. The UK’s Essential Infrastructure. Currently H&W is additional capacity, Appeldore is back, Babcock is alternative capability, etc. It will be very hard for our other established English yards not to become fully committed – albeit in my view. Logic (a capacity which Wallace seems to have), ought to dictate that Cammell Laird, which built RSS Sir David Attenborough well enough, will be required for other shipbuilding projects soon enough, as will our other latent sheds. Barring an epiphany from Russia & China, that is. Your own considered views are welcomed – my door is always open (rather… Read more »
Good afternoon Gavin,
A very interesting and welcome reply, I was particularly fascinated by the history around your Grandfather. “Strolled around the Shankill” ……bravery in itself.
All the best.
Afternoon, Clive. Thanks, though not my GF in Shankill. GF was marine fitter and a born Scot up to 3yo. The Apoplexic Catholic was another Clansman altogether from Glasgow (and not one that in the day would have had much time for us Gordons – Anglo-French Fks, of course), but a Western Islander in close lineage – and further very proud of his Scandinavian* origins. Anyway, very chuffed right now ss managed to reconnect one of our smart TVs back to the Internet after only hour hours. Rgs * Norse, of course – so were we, in part, come to… Read more »
Certainly a rich tapestry of life their Gavin.
All the best
I, personally, don’t have too much of a problem with using the Scottish shipyards to their full capacity- that’s how you get best value from them after all. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for having multiple locations and a thriving shipbuilding industry, but a wise man in the industry once pointed out that spreading the manufacturing and skills too wide means that none of the locations are efficient or economically viable. As a point of comparison, France has two primary shipbuilding centres (Lorient and Toulon), with assembly work in St. Nazaire and Brest, and a specialist Submarine facility in… Read more »
A very reasonable comment. I would take issue though with the point about France, since none of the stated production “sites” are, to my knowledge, seeking independence.. As a little aside, the Ukrainian fast patrol. craft contract is now at……Scottish Babcock………not H&A Appledore, no surprise there then ! My central point is around naval shipbuilding and how it’s being used by a Westminster UK government as financial ‘bribery’ to maintain the Union. It’s as simple as that. The reverse of that is the potential cancellation of the proposed, not contracted, 5 X Type 32 build at the ‘Scottish Babcock’ yard… Read more »
I wonder if the Canadian Harry DeWolf type AOPV would be useful in the RN fleet? One based south for Falkland’s and the Antartica and 1-2 for north most patrols?
Is the same ship design for the RRS Sir David Attenborough to be used for 2nd survey ship look like a good set up v’s the one they bought.