New Polar Research Vessel Announcement
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For the first time a UK polar-capable vessel will be constructed to take helicopters. Hitherto the BAS research fleet of RRS James Clark Ross and RRS Ernest Shackleton (and the vessels they replaced) had no space for helicopters and HMS Enduance was deployed each Antarctic season with its helicopters to facilitate landings of field parties.
The new vessel has been specified but not yet designed, so the image released to the media is somewhat of an artist's impresion. It is hoped the vessel will be operational by 2020.