RRS James Cook
Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Cook was delivered to NERC on 31st of August 2006 having been built by the Norwegian shipbuilder, Flekkefjord & Maskinfabrikk AS to a design by Skipsteknisk AS. The ship is named after Captain James Cook FRS RN (1728-1779) who led 3 of the most significant voyages of exploration ever undertaken between 1768-79.
The Natural Environment Research Council's state-of-the-art ship, the RRS James Cook, is the latest addition to its fleet of oceanographic research vessels, and came into service in 2006. The ship is designed to carry scientists to some of Earth's most challenging environments, from tropical oceans to the edge of the ice sheets. It plays a significant role in delivering NERC's science priorities both now and in the coming decades. Substantially larger than its predecessor, the RRS Charles Darwin, the RRS James Cook is fitted with some of the most modern scientific systems available. In addition the ship has been built to meet the ICES Cooperative Research Report no. 209 - Underwater Noise of Research Vessels, so called ICES 209 standard, meaning she is one of the quietest research vessels currently afloat. RRS James Cook is also built with a Dynamic Positioning (DP) system, enabling the ship hold station in all but the most violent weather. This combines with the ability to deploy the Isis ROV to make RRS James Cook one of the most advanced research vessels currently in service.
Specifications
Capabilities
- Single & multibeam echosounder surveys
- Integrated data logging
- Seismic surveys
- Clean seawater sampling
- Remotely Operated Vehicle operations
- CTD surveys
- Deepwater coring, trawling, and towing
General Particulars
|
RRS James Cook |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Call sign |
MLRM6 |
Overall length |
89.2m |
|
IMO number |
938242 |
Beam |
18.6m |
|
Total Capacity: |
54 |
Maximum draft |
5.6m |
|
Marine crew |
22 officers and ratings |
Maximum displacement |
4500 |
|
Scientists and technicians |
32 according to the science type |
Gross tonnage |
5401 Tonnes |
|
Average operating speed |
11 knots |
Net tonnage |
1610 Tonnes |
|
Endurance extreme |
55 days |
Displacement |
5430.5m3 |
|
Endurance operational |
50 days |
Completed |
2006 |
|
Working areas |
All oceans, including ice-edge |
Classification |
Lloyd’s +100 A1, Ice C, FS, LMC, UMS, DP(AM), Research Vessel |
Scientific Facilities
Handling Equipment
The RRS James Cook is the most capable ship in the NERC fleet in terms of over-the-side handling capability with both the stern and midships’ ‘A’ Frames (link to gantries) built with Safe Working Loads of up to 30T.
In addition the ship has a comprehensive winch suite (link) capable of supporting all current and anticipated future scientific operations.
Laboratories
Permanently Fitted Sensors and Instrumentation
Research ships come with a range of inbuilt equipment that science uses on a cruise. The systems enable a wide variety of parameters to be continuously logged whether the ship is stationary carrying out scientific work or not. The principles behind the following systems can be read about in the on-board equipment section. Therefore this concentrates on the type and layout of equipment specific to the RRS James Cook.
Hydroacoustic Suite
The RRS James Cook is fitted with a complex and highly capable suite of acoustic instruments designed to:
- map the seabed in both coastal and oceanic depths;
- measure currents;
- measure abundance of fish (and other biomass); and
- accurately position scientific platforms and sensors deployed by the vessel.
These instruments are fitted as described in table table and diagram below.
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|
System |
Use |
|---|---|---|
|
Hull Mounted |
EM120 12kHz multibeam echosounder |
Seabed mapping up to full ocean depth |
|
SBP120 sub-bottom profiler |
Imaging the structure below the seabed |
|
|
Port Drop Keel |
EM710 70-100kHz multibeam echosounder |
Seabed mapping in depths up to:
|
|
75kHz ADCP |
||
|
150kHz ADCP |
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|
EA600 12kHz singlebeam echosounder |
||
|
Starboard Drop Keel |
EK60 Bioacoustics echosounder with following frequencies: 18kHz, 38kHz 70kHz, 120kHz, 200kHz |
Biomass estimation |
|
Spar (pole) |
Ultra Short Base line (USBL) |
Underwater acoustic positioning |
Bridge Equipment
The RRS James Cook has a modern bridge equipment including a dynamic positioning system. Read more about the bridge equipment →
Propulsion
| Function | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Diesel generators | 4 x Wartsila 9L20 (1,770kW / 1000 rpm each – total 7,080kW) |
| Main propulsion motors | 2 x Teco Westinghouse DC (2,500kW 0-180rpm reversible) |
| Siemens alternators | 690v/60Hz |
| Shafts / propeller | 2 x Wartsila/acbLIPs, 5-bladed, fixed pitch, 3.6m diameter |
| Thrusters (all Brunvoll AS) | One retractable azimuth forward (1,350kW) |
| One tunnel forward, super-silent (1,200 kW) | |
| One tunnel stern, super-silent (800 kW) | |
| One tunnel stern (600 kW) | |
| Rudders | 2 high-lift high angle |
| Diesel capacity | 900m³ |
| Fresh water capacity | 210m³ |
