26 January, 2021 News stories, SDA

RRS Sir David Attenborough’s workboat, Terror, has won Best Landing Craft in the 2020 Work Boat World Awards.

The boats were judged on the design, build and functionality of the vessel. Terror was selected as Best Landing Craft because of the amount of functionality that is packed into its compact space – the boat is just 22-tonnes and the length of one-and-a-half buses.

Andrew Baird, Director at Baird Maritime, said: “Space is at a premium aboard all vessels and to design and build a landing craft that can be stored aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough whilst taking up minimal space is an achievement in itself. To be able to do so with a vessel that can transport a 20-foot shipping container, with twist locks securing it to the deck, or cars or skidoos is incredible.”

Designed by Incat Crowther and built by Coastal Workboats, the cargo tender will play a critical role transferring supplies such as food, fuel and science equipment to areas where the water is too shallow for Britain’s new polar ship to go.

Commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council and operated by British Antarctic Survey, the RRS Sir David Attenborough will transform UK research in the polar regions. Its missions will be critical for understanding and making sense of our changing climate. The ship will make its maiden voyage to Antarctica in November 2021 after an extensive programme of operational, scientific and ice trials.

In a nod to the history of polar exploration, Terror, and the ship’s second workboat Erebus, are named after the ships from Sir John Franklin’s fateful exploration of the Northwest Passage in 1845.

Brian Pogson, Director at Coastal Workboats said: “It has been a pleasure working with British Antarctic Survey on the development and build of Terror. To be part of this project and have a vessel built by our yard aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough is a proud moment.”

Will Whatley, Captain of RRS Sir David Attenborough said: “We are delighted that Terror has won this award. The boat will play a critical role in supporting climate research in the polar regions and resupplying our Antarctic research stations. We’re looking forward to putting the boat through its paces in Antarctica later this year.”

To find out more about the RRS Sir David Attenborough please visit https://www.bas.ac.uk/rrs-sir-david-attenborough/