A Royal Research Ship (RRS) is a merchant navy vessel of the United Kingdom that conducts scientific research on behalf of His Majesty's Government. Before a ship can be designated as an RRS, a warrant from the monarch is required.
Organisations operating Royal Research Ships include the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC). In the 1950s and 1960s, the ships were owned by the Admiralty and partially managed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The current fleet comprises three active vessels operated under NERC, while a number of notable ships have been retired from service.
Relationship with the Royal Navy In the 1950s and 1960s the Royal Research Ships of the day were owned by the Admiralty, partially managed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), and run as ships of that fleet.
The work of the Royal Research Ship operated by the British Antarctic Survey is complemented by a Royal Navy icebreaker, currently HMS Protector, which provides science logistics support to the British Antarctic Survey.
Current Royal Research Ships All ships bear the prefix "RRS" - Royal Research Ship.
Ship Entered service Displacement Type Owner Operator202115,000 tonnesResearch shipNatural Environment Research CouncilBritish Antarctic Survey20075,800 tonnesNational Marine Facilities DivisionNational Oceanography CentreRRS Discovery20136,260 tonnes
Notable former Royal Research Ships (1901) RRS William Scoresby (1926) (1929) (1955) (1956) (1962) (1970) (1985) (1999) (1990)
See also Marine Directorate History of research ships Research vessel
References
External links UK Natural Environment Research Council UK National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
National Marine Facilities Division Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology