RRS Sir David Attenborough launch successful

The UK’s new polar research ship, Sir David Attenborough, was successfully launched on Saturday, July 14.

The 129-metre long, 10,000-tonne hull was launched into the River Mersey. Once in the river, tugs towed the vessel to Cammell Laird’s wet basin for the next stages of construction.

The ship was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council, built by Cammell Laird and will be operated by British Antarctic Survey.

The new research ship is part of a government polar infrastructure investment programme designed to keep Britain at the forefront of world-leading research in Antarctica and the Arctic.

The polar research ship is scheduled to come into operation in 2019.