RRS Discovery

Royal Research Ship (RRS) Discovery departed Southampton today to measure one of the world’s largest system of ocean currents, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).

These measurements are used to understand the natural variability of the ocean and climate system and its impact on the weather.

Newly developed 3D imaging technology has allowed scientists to map an area of cold-water coral reefs off the coast of Scotland to see whether it has recovered since being declared a Marine Protected Area 16 years ago.

On Friday 6 September a team of scientists and engineers, led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and University of Southampton, will set sail to revisit a deep, cold-water coral reef area 16 years after it was named a Marine Protected Area, to look for evidence the coral is regenerating.

The RRS Discovery is in Liverpool this week as part of a unique celebration of the best of British environmental science being showcased by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) alongside the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

Gwyn Griffiths, former chief technologist at the National Oceanography Centre, presented a webinar on A Century of Discovery: How Three Research Ships Named Discovery Unveiled the Ocean’s Mysteries.

The new Royal Research Ship Discovery has arrived in Southampton for the first time. Over the coming weeks the officers and crew will put her through her paces while conducting equipment trials.

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.

The new research ship serving UK marine science has been successfully launched at its yard in Vigo, Northern Spain.

The Royal Research Ship Discovery is now alongside an outfitting berth at the shipbuilder, CNP Freire, SA where fitting out is under way.

The UK’s leading environmental research organisation has commissioned a state-of-the art scientific research ship to replace the RRS Discovery, which was built in 1962 and is coming to the end of her scientifically useful working life.