Sir David Attenborough Polar Research Ship

Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough is one of the most advanced polar research vessels in the world.

It is designed to carry out important scientific research in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. It will also provide vital supplies to the UK's research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctic.

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

At a glance

Find out more about RRS Sir David Attenborough, from the story of its building and naming, key features and more.

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Key features

Length: 129m

Beam (the width at its widest point): 24m

Weight: 15,000 gross tonnes

Range: 19,000 nautical miles at 13 knots cruising speed

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Building RRS Sir David Attenborough

Funding for RRS Sir David Attenborough was first announced in 2014. Costing £200 million and taking four years to build, the ship has been designed to break through ice up to a metre thick, conduct vital scientific research, and transport both people and supplies to the British Antarctic Survey's five Antarctic research stations.

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The science of Sir David Attenborough

The vessel is a multi-disciplinary research platform that allows scientists to study the ocean, the sea floor, ice and atmospheric conditions in the field.

During the northern summer months, it will investigate the physical and biological changes in the Arctic. In the Austral summer (summer in the southern hemisphere), the ship will head to Antarctic waters to enhance our knowledge of the Southern Ocean.

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Take a virtual tour

Step aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough, and come on an exclusive tour of the ship with the British Antarctic Survey.

Credits

Images courtesy of British Antarctic Survey

Infographic © UKRI, NERC, Ben Gilliland

Delve deeper

Find out more about the RRS Sir David Attenborough

Construction timeline

Costing £200 million and taking four years to build, watch all the key moments during construction of Sir David Attenborough

The science of Sir David Attenborough

Find out more about the facilities, equipment and advances that make RRS Sir David Attenborough a pioneering research vessel

Where is the RRS Sir David Attenborough now?

Track the UK's polar research vessel as it carries out important scientific research with the British Antarctic Survey

What's in a name?

From Boaty McBoatface to Sir David Attenborough, discover how the UK's newest polar research vessel got its name

Polar science

Find out more about just some of the work that the RRS Sir David Attenborough will support

Ice cores and climate change

By extracting ice cores from Antarctica, scientists are able to travel more than 800,000 years back into Earth’s climate history

What's it like to camp in Antarctica?

Find out what it's like to live and work in the Antarctic with British Antarctic Survey scientist Joanne Johnson

Polar exploration: then and now

Science has always played a key role in expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. As we confront the climate crisis, understanding that legacy is more important than ever.

The National Maritime Museum is home of some of the most important records and artefacts in British polar exploration history, including relics from HMS Erebus and Terror and items belonging to Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

With RRS Sir David Attenborough, a new chapter in our polar story is beginning. Visit the National Maritime Museum to chart the history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, and discover what the future may hold for these vital places.