[ad_1]
- Babcock International’s Rosyth Shipyard has today been awarded £45 million to maintain the UK’s fleet of scientific research vessels – RRS Sir David Attenborough, RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook.
- Three ships involved in the most pressing global exploration around the world, visiting the depths of polar regions and tropical oceans
- The investment is a boost for UK shipbuilding and will support high-skilled jobs and suppliers in Scotland and across the UK and is a key step in the Government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
£45 million in funding to maintain the UK’s state-of-the-art fleet of research vessels has been announced today (Saturday 10 December) by Industry and Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani.
A £45 million contract awarded to Babcock International by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is a key component of the Government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, boosting investment in the prestigious UK shipbuilding industry.
Maintenance and improvements will be carried out RRS Sir David Attenborough, RRS Search, and RRS James Cook, three ships that conduct innovative scientific research in our oceans and polar regions and support scientists tackling global issues such as climate change and pollution.
Industry and Maritime Minister, Nusrat Ghani said:
RRS Sir David Attenborough and his first voyage to Antarctica inspired the explorer in all of us, venturing into some of the world’s most unforgiving climates, while conducting important scientific research on pressing global issues such as sea level rise and marine biodiversity.
This research is invaluable, which is why we are committing to the funding needed to maintain these key research vessels, drawing on Rosyth Shipyard’s proven track record of excellent UK vessel maintenance work.
The shipbuilding industry supports over 40,000 jobs across the UK. This investment will secure highly skilled jobs and suppliers to maintain the UK’s state-of-the-art fleet of research vessels.
The initial three-year contract, with an additional two-year option, will see the large oceanographic and polar research vessels dock at Babcock’s state-of-the-art facilities in Rosyth, Scotland, for programmed maintenance and upgrade work.
Babcock Rosyth is a leading provider of maritime support, and also where maintenance, repairs and upgrades are carried out on the UK Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers.
Defense Secretary and Shipbuilding Czar, Ben Wallace, said:
This is another fantastic example of a national shipbuilding strategy delivering for British industry and accelerating 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.
Professor Sir Duncan Wingham, Executive Chair of NERCPart of UK Research and Innovation, said:
The UK’s fleet of advanced research vessels provide scientists with state-of-the-art facilities to research our oceans and polar regions, building our understanding of 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 CEO David Lockwood said:
We are delighted to have been awarded the contract for this important maintenance NERC fleet.
Our flexible and efficient solution will ensure that the fleet is maintained to exceptional standards and optimize vessel availability in support of this. NERCThe global footprint of
Society of Maritime Industries CEO Tom Chant said:
Congratulations to Babcock on this important business win. The Rosyth base has already benefited from investment for the Type 31 project. This has developed the workforce and their skill base and created a world beating shipyard.
Will be a great match for skills and facilities at Rosyth NERC Ships with their specialist requirements and arduous expeditionary voyages.
This RRS Sir David Attenborough led the British Antarctic Survey (B.A.S) and is one of the world’s most advanced polar research vessels, departing the UK for its maiden voyage in November 2021. The ship recently departed its UK home port on November 20th for a six-month expedition to Antarctica. In the next campaign, the RRS Sir David Attenborough will test a new artificial intelligence system that will help chart the most environmentally friendly route at any given time.
With a length of 129 meters and a range of 19,000 nautical miles, it accommodates a crew of 90, scientists and support staff and will enable research into the oceans, seabed, ice and atmosphere.
This RRS Discovery (2013) and RRS Administered by James Cook (2006) National Oceanography Centre.NOC) and conducts oceanographic research around the world, undertaking multi-disciplinary marine science to unlock the secrets of the deep ocean.
Following the refit, RRS Discovery will head to the Arctic to explore nitrogen fixation with the University of Liverpool and NERCwhen RRS James Cook will continue his research expeditions in some of the most challenging environments on Earth, from tropical oceans to the edges of ice sheets.
All three research vessels use state-of-the-art technology such as autonomous underwater vehicles, including the famous NOC Autosub called Boaty McBoatface.
Botti, and others NOC-Developed techniques have the ability to travel beneath the ice and up to 6,000 meters deep to investigate processes driving change in the polar regions. On the marine robot fleet NOC It is one of the most capable in the world and supports the scientific research of ships with environmentally friendly marine monitoring.
[ad_2]
Source link
