RRS Discovery (1962)

RRS Discovery was a British Royal Research Ship operated by NERC.

This article is about the 1962 vessel. For Scott's 1901 ship, see RRS Discovery. For other ships of this name, see RRS Discovery (disambiguation).

RRS Discovery
History
United Kingdom
Name: RRS Discovery
Owner: NERC National Marine Facilities Division
Builder: Hall Russell, Aberdeen[1]
Yard number: 899[1]
Laid down: 1962
Launched: 3 July 1962 by Mary Viscountess Hailsham
Out of service: 14 December 2012
Identification:
Status: Inactive; to be dismantled
General characteristics
Class and type:
Tonnage: 3008 tonnes (gross)[1]
Displacement: 4378 tonnes
Length: 90.0 m[2]
Beam: 14.0 m[2]
Draught: 5.52 m (full load)
Depth: 7.83 m[1]
Installed power: 3716 kW
Propulsion: Diesel-electric system with 2 × Mirrlees Blackstone ESL6 and 2 × Mirrlees Blackstone ELS9 Mk2 Diesel engines driving a propulsion motor. 360° azimuth thruster unit at bow
Speed: 11.0 knots (max: 12.5 knots)
Endurance: 55 days
Crew: 9 Officers; 13 Crew; 28 Scientists

RRS Discovery (III) was built in Aberdeen in 1962 and named after Robert Falcon Scott's 1901 ship, RRS Discovery. Until 2006, she was the largest general purpose oceanographic research vessel in use in the United Kingdom. Measuring 90 metres in length, and fitted with a broad range of oceanographic equipment, Discovery could also accommodate containerized laboratories. She had berths for 28 scientific staff, and the ability to spend up to 45 days at sea.[3] Her last major overhaul was in 1991,[4] when a new superstructure and power plant were installed and her hull lengthened by 10 metres.[5]

Discovery carried out oceanographic and marine biology research from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. She operated as part of a fleet maintained by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) National Marine Facilities Division (NMFD), along with the larger RRS James Cook.

In February 2000, Discovery observed some of the largest waves, called rogue waves, up to 29.1 metres (95.5 feet), recorded by scientific instruments up to that time.[6]

Discovery (III) has been replaced by another ship,[7] and after extensive enquiry within the scientific community, the replacement vessel was named "Discovery" (IV).[8] The 1962 vessel retained the name until disposal. The new vessel was designed by Skipsteknisk AS of Norway, built in Spain by C.N.P. Freire, S.A for delivery in 2013 and became available for scientific research in 2014.[9]

  • RRS Discovery leaving the Mersey.
  • RRS Discovery inbound to Southampton.
  • RRS Discovery inbound to Southampton April 2011.

References
  1. "Discovery". Vessel Assessment System. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  2. "RRS Discovery (IMO: 5090660)". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  3. "RRS Discovery". Natural Environment Research Council. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  4. "RRS Discovery". Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  5. "National Marine Facilities - Sea Systems: RSS Discovery". National Oceanography Centre - University of Southampton. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  6. Holliday, NP, MJ Yelland, RW Pascal, VR Swail, PK Taylor, CR Griffiths, and EC Kent (2006). Were extreme waves in the Rockall Trough the largest ever recorded? Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 33, L05613
  7. "Tenth Report". House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  8. confirmed by Alan Thorpe, NERC Chief Executive
  9. "RRS Discovery". National Oceanography Centre (NERC). Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
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