Chancellor puts UK at forefront of ocean research with new polar science ship
25 Apr 2014 02:36 PM
Chancellor announces
funding in speech on science’s role in building a more balanced and
resilient economy.
The government will fund a new
£200 million polar research ship to put UK scientists at the forefront of
climate and ocean research in both Antarctica and the Arctic, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer has announced in a speech.
Built with on board
laboratories, the new ship will carry cutting edge technology, including
robotic submarines and underwater gliders to bring back data on the ocean
conditions and marine biology.
The Chancellor made the
announcement speaking to an audience of leading scientists on the importance
of science, research and innovation to the government’s long term
economic plan.
Speaking about investment in a
new polar ship, the Chancellor said:
One of the final frontiers in
the world where there is still much discovery to be done are the polar
oceans.
Britain must continue to have a
presence in these parts of the world. But our two current polar exploration
ships are nearing the end of their life and need replacing.
So I am delighted that we are
investing in a new polar research ship carry cutting edge British technology to
put British scientists at the forefront of research in both the Antarctic and
the Arctic oceans.
Minister for the Polar Regions,
Mark Simmonds added:
A new state-of-the-art polar
research flagship will extend the UK’s capability and reach in polar
waters.
It also makes explicitly clear
our long-term commitment to maintaining our presence and scientific excellence
in South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic
Territory
The design of the new polar
ship.
The Chancellor’s 2013 Autumn
Statement announcement of £1.1billion per year of capital
funding to the UK scientific infrastructure provides an exceptional opportunity
to enhance the UK presence in the South Atlantic and Antarctica, and to
sustain, for decades into the future, the UK’s front-rank position in
Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientific research.
The Natural Environment
Research Council (NERC) proposed the design and build of the next
generation polar research vessel.
This will deliver world-leading
capability for UK research in both Antarctica and the Arctic. Built with on
board laboratories, the new ship will contain:
- remote controlled instruments,
which can safely open up extreme polar environments to
research
- robotic vehicles, helping to
pave the way for the development of new UK industries
- sophisticated underwater
environmental monitoring systems, used to provide underpinning data for
research
Operated by the British Antarctic
Survey (BAS), the ship will be available to the whole UK research base
including postgraduate training.
The new ship will have greater
endurance, to enable longer voyages which coupled with the use of helicopters
will ensure significantly greater geographic coverage.
The enhanced coverage will open
up new locations for science and will clearly demonstrate and reinforce the
continuing British presence in Antarctica and the South
Atlantic.