KONGSBERG enabled Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough officially named

KONGSBERG ship design, autonomous vehicles, operational and digital technology, and scientific research solutions ready for decades of new scientific discovery.

26 Sep 2019

One of the world’s most advanced polar research vessels, RRS Sir David Attenborough, has been officially named at a special naming ceremony held at Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead, UK, shipyard on Thursday, 26 September 2019. The milestone event, attracting over 600 invited guests and more than 4,000 members of the public, represented the centrepiece in a three-day celebration of British science, shipbuilding and engineering, which also included schools and family days.

KONGSBERG’s integrated systems are central to the vessel’s position as one of the most advanced research vessels ever built. Commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council and constructed by Cammell Laird for operation with British Antarctic Survey, the RRS Sir David Attenborough is designed to carry out intensive, multi-disciplinary missions of scientific significance, with minimal impact on the ocean environment it will be used to study.

“KONGSBERG has supported development of the RRS Sir David Attenborough from the very early days, helping us to realise our vision for such a unique and pioneering ship. Our missions will take us to the most remote areas with the most extreme conditions, but we are confident that the technology onboard will enable safe navigation and control, as well as capture of the data our scientists need to address the environmental challenges that we all face today, and in the future,” said Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of British Antarctic Survey.

Royal Ceremonial Naming of RRS Sir David Attenborough. Sir David Attenborough and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the event on Thursday – pictured with Kongsberg Maritime systems on the bridge. Credit: British Antarctic Survey

Thanks to sophisticated, green, cost-effective solutions including an energy management system, cutting-edge sensors and remotely-operated robotic technologies which all come under Kongsberg Maritime’s ‘Full Picture’ scope of delivery, the RRS Sir David Attenborough’s design focuses on fuel and logistical efficiency, and is expected to save in excess of £100 million in operating expenditure over the course of its 30-year lifespan.

From Left: Einar Vegsund, VP Design & Hydro, Kongsberg Maritime, Ole Arve Misund, Director, Norwegian Polar Institute, Right, Egil Haugsdal, President, Kongsberg Maritime

“Knowing the importance of deep-ocean and under-ice research, it’s an honour to be trusted with enabling safe and efficient marine operations on the RRS Sir David Attenborough, as well as providing the platform for the data capture and analysis that will engender new scientific insight. We wish all those working onboard every success, and anticipate some amazing findings as the ship embarks on the first of its long research voyages,” said Egil Haugsdal, President, Kongsberg Maritime.

Two minutes with the man in charge…

Kongsberg Maritime caught up with Captain Will Whatley, Master of the Royal Research Ship, Sir David Attenborough, working for the British Antarctic Survey.

KM: It’s an exciting day today with great anticipation. What does a day like this mean to you?

WW: This is a huge moment in my career. It’s been a long time that I’ve been involved in this project, since July 2016, so it’s been a huge amount of effort to get to this major and final milestone in the construction of this fantastic ship.

KM: So, what’s next in terms of sea trials? What’s left to do in the yard before sea trials commence?

WW: At the moment, we’re in the final stages of internal outfit, and we’re commissioning the systems. We’ve still got plenty of testing to do alongside, just to make sure that the ship is safe to go to sea. Once all of that is complete, we’ll initially go to sea on yard sea trials, and then come back in, and we’ll then transfer ownership to us, and we’ll then commence our scientific sea trials, which will include things like icebreaking, and testing with helicopters… it will be very involved.

KM: So, a chance to put her through her paces in the real environment she has been designed for.

WW: That’s right, yes.

KM: In terms of the design – obviously, formerly a Rolls-Royce design and now a KONGSBERG design – what are you looking forward to about the structure and the design of the hull form in particular, as an experienced captain? What do you think this will bring you?

WW: Well, Rolls-Royce, now Kongsberg, were given a big challenge to try and fit lots of features into one hull, and as such they’ve had to make lots of compromises. But I think, considering that the specification they were given, to try and fit all of these capabilities into one hull, they’ve done really well, and I think that the ship will handle well. I’m really looking forward to trying it.

KM: Can you describe the worst of the conditions that you’ve faced in your career, and how you think a ship like this could handle them?

WW: The worst conditions are either big sea states or heavy ice. We do experience a lot of Southern Ocean storms with massive seas, and there’s no shelter, but the ship is designed to withstand that, and there’s no reason why she won’t do so.