A new government funded research ship, built in UK shipyards,
will create jobs and help protect the nation's climate, energy
and food security. The government has committed to build this new
vessel as part of its drive to reindustrialise the UK and support
our shipyards.
The new ship will lead a new national system for monitoring the
UK's seas. It will bring together marine surveys, data and
technology in one place, helping the nation manage fisheries and
the marine environment more effectively.
At 85 metres long and able to accommodate more than 40 people,
the vessel will carry out a wide range of scientific work. This
includes assessing fish stocks, mapping the seabed, monitoring
pollution, and responding quickly to marine incidents. It will
use the latest technology, including automation, robotics and
artificial intelligence, and will run on clean fuels, helping
position the UK as a global leader in marine science while
reducing environmental impact.
The UK's seas contributed more than £200 billion to the economy
in 2021. This investment reflects how important the marine
environment is to the UK's economy, security and long-term
resilience.
The vessel will replace the RV Cefas Endeavour, which has
supported UK marine science since 2003 and is due to retire in
the early 2030s.
Defra Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Anjali Goswami
said:
Science leadership and innovation are critical to informing the
complex decision making necessary to balance the needs of people
and nature, within a challenging context of economic, societal
and environmental pressures.
By investing in a next-generation Research Vessel, we can
continue to harness marine scientific understanding to make
better decisions to safeguard our essential human needs: water,
food and energy security.
Cefas CEO, Tim Green, said:
This once-in-a-generation investment is a significant moment for
Cefas and UK marine science. This new vessel will give our
scientists the capability to monitor and understand our changing
seas, support sustainable fisheries and inform management
decisions, and respond to growing marine challenges.
For 125 years, Cefas has worked alongside coastal communities and
the fishing industry from our main sites in Lowestoft and
Weymouth to deliver world-leading marine science.
This investment will build on that proud heritage, create
opportunities for the next generation and ensure that they have
the tools to shape the future of our seas.
The new vessel is expected to be operational in 2031 or 2032,
continuing over 125-years of world-leading UK marine research.
Delivery of the vessel will be led by the Centre for Environment,
Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), which has laboratories
in Lowestoft and Weymouth.
The government expects to engage with the UK shipbuilding sector
in the coming months to plan the next stage of the procurement
process. The vessel's design will reflect the specialist
scientific needs of the mission.
