RRS Sir David Attenborough undertakes surveys off Western Isles

Britain’s new polar research vessel is undertaking an oceanic expedition off the west coast of the Hebrides.

Royal Research Ship (RSS) Sir David Attenborough is one of the most advanced polar research vessels in the world.

A competition in 2016 to chose her name caused waves when Boaty McBoatface topped a public internet vote.

Eventually, a more inspirational title was eventually chosen to reflect the important nature of her duties though a submersible on the vessel is named Boaty McBoatface.

Environmental scientists onboard the £200 million ship have been probing what lies below the waves off the Western Isles.

Data is being collected around the edge of the continental shelf off the Hebrides during a series of surveys in-between a crew changeover visit to Belfast.

Surveys also took place 40 miles off North Uist, around St Kilda, and to the west of Lewis.

In recent days, researchers moved out to deeper water with the ship now heading past Sulasgeir. She will continue to take surveys north of Scotland during a slow voyage to Denmark

The exercise is also part of science trials, familiarising new crew with her winch systems and procedures, as well as testing the acoustic instruments in deeper water.

This has included using instruments to measure sea currents, temperature and the amount of salt in the ocean.

Sea water collected from different depths is being analysed in the ship’s laboratories for different chemical properties.

Seabed sampling instruments were also successfully deployed and an underwater camera took a series of photographs of creatures on the seafloor.

Specimens of fauna at the bottom of the ocean were taken onboard.

RRS Sir David Attenborough has state-of-the-art acoustic instruments that help researchers to visualise features in the water and seabed.

Researchers use images from her two state-of-the-art echosounders to map the seafloor. The echosounders also help identify animals in the ocean, such as shoals of fish, and collect information about water currents.

The David Attenborough recently returned from its first voyage to Antarctica and has undertaken a mission around the north and west of Scotland.

Fitting out of the 129-ship metre vessel was completed last year following her construction at Cammell Laird on the Mersey.

Her 30 crew refer to her as the SDA. She is operated by British Antarctic Survey and accommodates up to 60 scientists and associated staff.

A competition in 2016 to chose her name caused waves when Boaty McBoatface topped a public internet vote.

Sir David Attenborough was eventually chosen to reflect the desire for a more inspirational title.

RRS Sir David Attenborough undertakes surveys off Western Isles

30 August 2022