RRS Discovery 1962–2012

The new ship to serve the UK marine science community was today (8 July) handed over to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) by its builder CNP Freire, SA, in Vigo, Northern Spain.

Friday 21 December saw the final departure of a ship that has served UK marine science for the past 50 years.

The 50th anniversary of the launch of the Royal Research Ship Discovery will be marked on 2 July 2012. This will be her last year of service, a half-century of science that has included surveying the ocean floor, measuring ocean currents, monitoring climate change, and discovering new species around the globe.

The 50th anniversary of the launch of the Royal Research Ship Discovery was marked on 2 July 2012. This is her last year of service, a half-century of science that has included surveying the ocean floor, measuring ocean currents, monitoring climate change, and discovering new species around the globe.

Scientists, crew and support staff, past and present, associated with the Royal Research Ship Discovery gathered in 2012 to celebrate the half century of the vessel’s service to UK science.