A Royal Research Ship (RRS) is a merchant navy vessel of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

that conducts scientific research for

His Majesty's Government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...

. Organisations operating such ships include; the

Natural Environment Research Council The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is a British research council that supports research, training and knowledge transfer activities in the environmental sciences. History NERC began in 1965 when several environmental (mainly geogr ...

(NERC), the

British Antarctic Survey The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the United Kingdom's national polar research institute. It has a dual purpose, to conduct polar science, enabling better understanding of global issues, and to provide an active presence in the Antarctic on ...

(BAS) and the

National Oceanography Centre The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is a marine science research and technology institution based on two sites in Southampton and Liverpool, United Kingdom. It is the UK’s largest institution for integrated sea level science, coastal and d ...

(NOC). A warrant from the monarch is required before a ship can be designated as an RRS.

Relationship with the Royal Navy

In the 1950s and 1960s the Royal Research Ships of the day were owned by the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong *Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Traf ...

, partially managed by the

Royal Fleet Auxiliary The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a naval auxiliary fleet owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence. It provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The RFA ensures the Royal Navy is supplied and supported by ...

(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 The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

icebreaker An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters, and provide safe waterways for other boats and ships. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller ...

, currently HMS ''Protector'', which provides science logistics support to the British Antarctic Survey.

Current Royal Research Ships

All ships bear the

prefix A prefix is an affix which is placed before the Word stem, stem of a word. Adding it to the beginning of one word changes it into another word. For example, when the prefix ''un-'' is added to the word ''happy'', it creates the word ''unhappy'' ...

"RRS" - Royal Research Ship. File:RRS Sir David Attenborough at Liverpool Cruise Terminal 4.jpg, ''Sir David Attenborough'' File:RRS James Cook 1.jpg, ''James Cook'' File:RRS Discovery Leaving Liverpool.jpg, ''Discovery''

Notable former Royal Research Ships

* (1901) * RRS ''William Scoresby'' (1926) * (1929) * (1955) * (1956) * (1962) * (1970) * (1985) * (1999) * (1990)

References

External links

* U
Natural Environment Research Council
* U
National Oceanography Centre

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

* {{cite web, url=http://www.bas.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_ships/index.php, title=British Antarctic Survey Ships, publisher=BAS, access-date=2008-10-14, url-status=dead, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617223816/http://www.bas.ac.uk/living_and_working/research_ships/index.php, archive-date=17 June 2008, df=dmy-all
National Marine Facilities Division

Research vessels of the United Kingdom Science and technology in the United Kingdom

Relationship with the Royal Navy

Current Royal Research Ships

Notable former Royal Research Ships

See also

References

External links