This is a forward look of availability for NERC’s marine facilities, including:
- RRS James Cook (ship information on the National Oceanography Centre website)
- RRS Discovery (ship information on the National Oceanography Centre website)
- RRS Sir David Attenborough (ship information on the British Antarctic Survey website)
- other major infrastructures within the National Marine Equipment Pool (such as gliders, Autosubs, ROV ISIS)
Due to potential changes in ship logistics and planning, availability is indicative and is subject to change at any time. Do not rely solely on this overview to check availability for your science requirements. Get in touch to discuss your requirements, we’re ready to work with you to deliver excellent science!
Availability is either through dedicated marine shiptime, or available berths (providing access to underway sampling and laboratory facilities and likely to be known only for the short-term).
NERC’s prioritisation framework for marine facilities and polar infrastructure establish how we prioritise bids for free-at-the-point-of-use shiptime and polar operations. Published programmes for the three vessels can be found on the Marine Facilities Planning website.
NERC also has access to European and US marine facilities, including research vessels and marine equipment, through barter partnerships. Access to these capabilities is coordinated in the same way as for NERC’s marine facilities by NERC Marine Planning.
In the following availability overview, each year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and months of the seasons are:
- winter: January, February, March
- spring: April, May, June
- summer: July, August, September
- autumn: October, November, December
Blue water shiptime (RRS James Cook and RRS Discovery)
2024 to 2025: very limited availability.
2025 to 2026: some availability in autumn and winter.
2026 to 2027: good availability, particularly during autumn and winter, some in spring and summer.
2027 to 2028: good availability, particularly during autumn and winter, some in spring and summer.
2028 to 2029: good availability, particularly during autumn and winter, some in spring and summer.
Arctic polar shiptime (RRS Sir David Attenborough)
Season typically June to August.
2024 to 2025: no availability.
2025 to 2026: very limited availability.
2026 to 2027: good availability.
2027 to 2028: good availability.
2028 to 2029: good availability.
Antarctic polar shiptime (RRS Sir David Attenborough)
Season typically November to May.
2024 to 2025: limited availability.
2025 to 2026: limited availability. Available berths during a Rothera rotation in May to June 2025.
2026 to 2027: limited availability. Available berths during mid-season Rothera rotations and late season island calls, subject to availability of technical support.
2027 to 2028: limited availability. Available berths around station calls and traverse resupply (location to be confirmed), subject to technical support.
2028 to 2029: some availability expected, dependent on location, duration and other international programmes.
Other major infrastructures (gliders, Autosub5, Autosub Long Range, ROV ISIS)
2024 to 2025: no availability.
2025 to 2026: very limited availability.
2026 to 2027:
- availability for ROV ISIS
- potential availability for gliders
- no availability for Autosub5 or Autosub Long Range
2027 to 2028:
- availability for ROV ISIS and gliders
- no availability for Autosub5 or Autosub Long Range
2028 to 2029: good availability for all infrastructures.
Using our vessels for science delivery
The RRS James Cook and RRS Discovery are often referred to as the ‘blue water’ vessels as they operate in open seas, typically in the Atlantic basin and sometimes into the Eastern Pacific, Southern Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
They are not ice-strengthened vessels, but both have a Polar Code Certification meaning they can operate in waters categorised as ‘Polar Waters’ up to 80 degrees north and 65 degrees south (dependent on ice presence and latitude for Arctic operations).
The RRS Sir David Attenborough (NERC’s newest vessel) is now operational for scientific activities, having undertaken northern and southern hemisphere science trials, field depots of scientists to remote locations and NERC-funded science cruises in Antarctica and the Arctic.
While the vessel is likely to focus on polar science delivery, it is fully capable of delivering science outside of the polar regions when there is opportunity. This is most likely to be in the Atlantic basin during ship movement between the UK and Antarctica.
As well as delivering dedicated marine science cruises in both the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions, RRS Sir David Attenborough also supports NERC’s Antarctic field stations: Rothera, Halley, Bird Island, Signy and King Edward Point.
Opportunities may exist for scientific researchers to join the opening and closing visits to the stations to take advantage of underway sampling or deployment of remote or autonomous equipment. This is subject to existing available science support on the vessel or funding for additional support.
We encourage scientists to be flexible as new projects are developed, particularly those that will require use of RRS Sir David Attenborough as a marine science platform. You can also use existing research data from the Environmental Data Service, remote sensing information and other digital approaches.
Contact us
To discuss opportunities for use of the vessels in relation to your specific requirements, email NERC Marine Planning at: marineplanning@nerc.ukri.org