The UK world-class polar research ship that grabbed the world headlines for nearly being called ‘BoatyMcBoatface’, is part of a major Government investment in polar infrastructure which will keep Britain at the forefront of world-leading research in Antarctica and the Arctic.

The vessel, officially named RRS Sir David Attenborough by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge in September 2019, has been put through its paces by the shipyard engineers and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) mariners off the coast of North Wales. It’s now in the hands of the BAS ship crew for intensive training at Holyhead, before equipment trials around the Irish Sea. The ship will head for the Arctic in the next few months to start ice trials, with its maiden voyage to Antarctica planned for late 2021.

The ship represents an exceptional achievement for Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British industry. The 15,000 tonne vessel, with an ice-strengthened hull, designed to break through ice up to one metre thick, is the biggest and most ambitious build in their history, demonstrating that the UK is at the forefront of world ship building.

State-of-the-art projects need high performance products, Cammell Laird’s commissioning team selected Coolflow DTX for the RRS Sir David Attenborough’s Heating and Chilled Water Systems, Refrigerated Cold Room and Fixed Fire Fighting System – each in a different colour for identification.

Launched in 2010, Coolflow DTX represents a major step forward in heat transfer and pumping efficiency, providing a significant reduction in operating costs when compared with Propylene Glycol based fluids. Customers such as Waitrose, Lidl and ALDI have designed their systems with the non-toxic fluid in mind. It has allowed them to not only make savings in areas such as hardware & capital expenditure, but also make continued savings on operational and running costs throughout their nationwide stores.

The RRS Sir David Attenborough is a celebration of British expertise. A team of 1000’s - built up of engineers, scientists, builders, apprentices, specialist subcontractors and UK suppliers like Hydratech. It is a project that will help our leading scientists advance our understanding of the impact of climate change, and one that all involved should be very proud of.

Photo Credit: iStock.com/Alan Morris