RRS Sir David Attenborough – A new ship for the British Antarctic Survey

Captain Will Whatley

Key Facts about RRS Sir David Attenborough - 128.9m long, 24m beam, 7m draft, 16,200 GRT. 4860 – Net Tonnage.

- Keel laid 17/10/16 - due to be launched in March 2018.

- We plan to begin our year long trials itinerary in September 2018.

- RRS SDA will officially enter service in September 2019, heading to the Antarctic for her first season.

- The ship is being built my Cammell Laird in Liverpool, UK. Rolls Royce Marine are the designers and are suppling a large proportion of the equipment.

- The ship will be fully operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

- BAS is moving towards a single ship operation.

Key Capabilities / Features

- Total capacity of 90 POB.

- 4m x 4m moonpool.

- Silent R notation, from DNV even though it is an LR ship.

- DP class 2 – RRM DP system.

- Helideck with D value of 22.2m, Heli-hangar capable of storing two Eurocopters AS 365s.

- Planned Bandwidth of 2Mbps – Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA).

- Maximo planned maintenance system.

- Ecospeed hull coating

Scientific Deployment Locations

Moonpool

SideA-frame

CTDBoom

Stern A-frame

Forward TowingPlatform

RemovableBulwark

RemovableBulwarks (2)

Workboat: -- 4 x EK80 frequencies.

- Capable of fitting EM2040 shallow water swath system.

- Winch and J frame for overside operations.

Davit Launched Cargo Tender

2 person scientist cabins

How does BAS intend to operate RRS Sir David Attenborough?

- 100% crew changes at approximately 3 month rotations.

- Deployed south to the Antarctic from September until May on both scientific and logistics taskings.

- During the northern summers SDA will be busy with Arctic science cruises and a refit period.

- Working out of Stanley FI and Punta Arenas whilst deployed south.

- Approximately 60 days at sea for an average multi disciplinary science cruise.

- Potential for + one ship option in the new BAS operating model.

- Higher transit speed than our current ships – 13 knots.

MASTER

CHIEF

ENGINEERCHIEF OFFICER PURSER

ETO(C) / AMOS

MANAGER / IT

MANAGER

ETO (E) 2nd ENGINEERDECK

ENGINEER

SECOND

OFFICER

3rd ENGINEER THIRD OFFICER

3rd ENGINEER THIRD OFFICER

4th ENGINEER

CPO Motorman SCIENCE OPS BOSUN CHIEF COOK SENIOR STEWARD

Motorman BOSUNS MATE 2ND COOK2nd COOK /

STEWARD

LAUNCH MAN

5 x Able Seamen

TRAINEE TRAINEE

RRS SDA Manning Structure

Total 29 persons plus doctor.

Predicted Fuel Burn Figures for SDA, estimates from modelling and tank testing…..

Transit 13 knots - 20.3 t/dSurvey 11 knots - 12.2 t/dSurvey 8 knots - 7.8 t/dIce Breaking 3 knots in 1m ice - 41.0 t/dIce breaking 4 knots in 0.5m ice - 19.4Dynamic Positioning - 16.0 t/dManoeuvring - 21.0 t/dPort - 4.8 t/dCargo transfer - 14.1 t/dRefit 1.3 - t/d

Updating the BAS Antarctic Infrastructure

How do BAS intend to comply with the Polar Code?

- RRS SDA is the first Polar Code Compliant Ship to be built in the UK.

- The Polar Code Operational Assessment of the SDA identified all of the polar hazards that the ship is likely to encounter and how best to mitigate them.

- We used all of the relevant expertise within BAS, RRM, LR, Cammell Laird, Houlder and MCA to decide together how to ensure full compliance. As a result we will deliver a ship that has been designed for polar operations of the future and fully compliant with current Polar Code requirements.

- The ship will have two hemispherical resonator gyros and one laser ring gyro, these are solid state so will be resilient to ice impact and vibrations.

- The SDA is designed to have 60 day endurance.

- We have been working closely with Norsafe to develop our Polar Code compliant lifeboats and davits, this has been based on lifeboat SAREX trials in the Arctic. 90 person lifeboat on each side.

- All equipment on board will be able to operate at the Polar Service Temperature of -35ᵒC, e.g. Polar rated liferafts, bigger inflation bottles, double insulated floor.

- SDA will be issued with two separate Estimated Time to Rescue (ETR) figures . 20 days for an abandonment onto ice and 10 days for an abandonment onto water. PC states minimum of 5 days.

- We have been developing our PSK and GSK contents for some time now, we plan to test the kits on the current ships before ordering large quantitates.

- If you would like more detail I am happy to share our draft Polar Water Operational Manual (not yet approved).

Ice Class of SDA is PC 5.

- SDA hull and rudder are classed to PC4 and the propulsion shafting and propeller to PC5.

- This is a balance between, strength, draft, cargo capacity and URN.

- There is also a comprehensive ice load monitoring system being fitted allowing us to monitor stresses and strains in the hull in real time.

Build Progress

• Block 20, 10 and 30 structures are now complete and on slipway in Birkenhead. • Main engines, propulsion motors, shafts, stern thrusters, switchboards, auxiliary machinery and scientific winches are all now present on board.

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On November 4th 2017 SDA will begin her first journey, 31m astern of her current position. The ship will then extrude from the construction hall 42 metres.

The all up weight including equipment will be approaching 6000 tonnes at this stage.

Moonpool Arrangement

Time-lapse footage

Any Questions?