Polar research ship build

The build will maintain the UK’s position firmly at the forefront of climate and ocean research and provide a much needed boost to shipbuilding and jobs in the Merseyside region.

Cammell Laird is expected to cut steel for the vessel, which will be built to Rolls-Royce design UT 851, in Autumn 2016 and deliver the vessel by 2019.

John Syvret, chief executive, Cammell Laird, said: “The new contract, which will be finalised later this year, is expected to secure 400 jobs at Cammell Laird and a further 100 jobs within the local supply chain. Cammell Laird has a very successful apprenticeship scheme and would plan to recruit 60 apprentices throughout the term of the contract.”

The new polar research ship, which will be operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), will be available to the whole UK research community, including for postgraduate training.

It will operate in both Antarctica and the Arctic and be able to endure up to 60 days in sea-ice enabling scientists to work away for longer periods.

Interestingly, it will be the first British-built polar research vessel with a heli-deck and will be one of the most sophisticated floating research laboratories operating in the Polar regions.

Robotic submarines and marine gliders will collect data on ocean conditions and marine biology and deliver it to scientists working in the ship’s on-board laboratories.

Also, airborne robots and on-board environmental monitoring systems will provide detailed information on the surrounding polar environment.