| RRS Discovery |
|
General Information
| Organisation: | NERC Research Ship Unit |
| Main Activities: | Marine Biology, Oceanography, Trials Platform |
| Operational Areas: | Worldwide |
| Contact: |
General Vessel Details
| Builder: | Hall Russell, Aberdeen, 1962. Major conversion in 1991. |
| Class: | DTp VII, Lloyds 100A1 |
| Flag: | U.K. |
| Call Sign: | GLNE |
Specification
| Length Overall: | 90.25m |
| Beam: | 14.00m |
| Full Load Draught: | 05.52m |
| Freeboard to Working Deck: | 02.60m |
| Full Load Displacement: | 4378 tonnes |
| Gross Tonnage: | 2536 tonnes |
| Maximum Speed: | 12.5 knots |
| Cruising Speed: | 11.0 knots |
| Maximum Endurance: | 55 days at sea |
| Hull: | Double bottom |
| Stabiliser or Anti-roll Device: | yes |
Propulsion Systems
| Main Engines: | Diesel electric system with 2 × Mirrlees Blackstone ESL6 and 2 × Mirrlees Blackstone ELS9 Mk2 diesels driving a propulsion motor. |
| Power: | 3716kW |
| Fuel: | Diesel |
| Bow Thruster: | 3600 Azimuthing unit |
Manning
| Officers: | 09 |
| Crew: | 13 |
| Scientists: | 28 |
Ship's Navigational Equipment
| Autopilot: | Decca 42E14 550/650 Series |
| Gyro Compasses: | 2 × SGB 1000 |
| Speed Logs: | Chernikeeff Aquaprobe Mk 5 |
| Echo Sounder: | Simrad Skipper |
| Navigation: | Trimble 4000DS GPS, Ashtech ADU2 Attitude Determining GPS, Ashtec GG24 which utilises both GPS and GLONASS satellites. All three systems are usually fed with Differential Correction Signals. |
| Radars: | ARPA 2690 and RM5028T |
Scientific Spaces
| Total Scientific Deck Space: | 460m2 | |
| Locations: | Afterdeck and Starboard Amidships | |
| Laboratories: | Oceanographic Wet Lab | 61.0m2 |
| Multi-purpose Dry Lab | 65.0m2 | |
| Chemistry Lab | 21.0m2 | |
| Computer Lab | 24.0m2 | |
| Darkroom | 10.0m2 | |
| Plot | 30.0m2 | |
| Constant Environment Lab | 08.7m2 | |
| Containers: | Four 6.15m × 2.46m containers | |
| Freezer Space: | yes | |
| Core Storage: | yes | |
Scientific Facilities and Equipment
| Compressed Air: | Low pressure and high pressure for air guns. |
| Compressors: | 4 × Hamworthy 4TH 565 W100 |
| Electrical Systems: | 415V AC 50Hz 150.0kVA 3 Phase |
| 240V AC 50Hz 314.0kVA 1 Phase | |
| 115V AC 60Hz 134.0kVA 1 Phase | |
| Echosounders and Sonars: | Simrad EA500 |
| Acoustic Doppler Profiler: | yes |
| Shipborne Computing System: | yes |
| Meteorological Equipment: | Air and sea surface temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure all logged automatically. |
Lifting and Wire Handling Facilities
| A-Frames: | Location: | Capacity: | Max Height: |
| Stern | 20 tonnes | 6m | |
| Starboard | 15 tonnes | 5m | |
| Forward | 03 tonnes | 4m | |
| Cranes: | Location: | Load Capacity: | |
| ACTA Hydraulic Knuckle Crane | Forward | 030 tonnes at 1m | |
| ACTA Hydraulic Knuckle Crane | Midships | 120 tonnes at 1m | |
| ACTA Hydraulic Knuckle Crane | Mid/Aft | 075 tonnes at 1m | |
| ACTA Hydraulic Knuckle Crane | Aft Port | 030 tonnes at 1m | |
| ACTA Hydraulic Knuckle Crane | Aft Starboard | 030 tonnes at 1m | |
| Winches: | Max Wire Length: | Diameter: | |
| Superaramid Warp | 08000m | 25.0mm | |
| Trawl Warp | 15000m | 13/18mm | |
| Coring Wire | 07000m | 16.7mm | |
| Conductor Wire | 10000m | 17.4mm | |
| Hydro Winch | 08800m | 06.0mm | |
| CTD Winch | 08800m | 10.0mm |
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