100 Years of Groundbreaking Exploration
There have been four ships named RRS Discovery – each has continued to complete innovative world class oceanographic research throughout the global ocean.
While the name has remained unchanged for a century, the way we explore and study the ocean has evolved dramatically with remarkable new discoveries still being made every day. Each version of the ship has it’s own story and character - from the changing design and purpose of research to the remarkable advances in marine science.
The First RRS Discovery (1901-1929)
Built (Rebuilt) | Dundee Shipbuilders Company, Dundee (1901) (Vospers, Portsmouth (1925)) |
| Science Career | 2 Research Cruises (1925-27) |
| Number of People (Berths) | 34 Officers & Crew, 5 Scientists |
| Size | Length: 52m, Beam: 10m, Draught: 5m, Number of Decks: 4 |
| Tonnage (GRT) | 736 |
| Top Speed | 8km (15km/h) |
| Propulsion | Coal-Fired Steam Engine (450 hp (340kW)) Sail |
Currently docked in Dundee, Scotland, Discovery was originally launched in 1901 as a steam yacht. In 1925 the ship made history as the first vessel to be designated as a Royal Research Ship – the RRS Discovery.
Following a two-year rebuild at Vospers in Portsmouth, starting in 1923, Discovery was ready for use as an oceanographic research vessel and was awarded the title Royal Research Ship in June 1925, starting the Discovery Investigations.
The first Discovery Investigations expedition set sail from Falmouth on the 24th September 1925, arriving back in Falmouth on 29th September 1927. This set in motion a series of scientific expeditions which ran from 1925 until 1951, gathering information about whales, ecosystems and the environment of the Southern Ocean. The investigations were commissioned by the Discovery Committee in London and were financed by new taxes on the sale of whale oil.
The Discovery Investigations provided the evidence that several whale species were nearing extinction and became the spark for some of the world’s first marine conservation efforts. This was recognised during the formation of the International Whaling Commission in 1946, which decided in 1982 that there should be a ban on commercial whaling - which remains in place today.
RRS Discovery II (1929-1962)
| Built | Ferguson Brothers Ltd, Port Glasgow (1929) |
| Science Career | 81 Research Cruises (1929-62) |
| Number of People (Berths) | 52 |
| Size | Length: 67m, Beam: 11m, Draught: 5m |
| Tonnage (GRT) | 1,036 |
| Top Speed | 13.5km (25km/h) |
| Propulsion | Single Screw, Triple Oil Burning |
RRS Discovery II, launched in Glasgow in 1929, continued research begun by the Discovery but this time with enhanced facilities and purpose-built scientific functions and acting as a floating research station, equipped to study marine biology, chemistry and hydrology. Missions spanned from Antarctic whale research to North Atlantic oceanography, reflecting a legacy of scientific ambition and endurance at sea.
As seen in the image gallery, the ship boated a wide range of diverse working and living spaces - from the biological and chemical laboratories where samples were processed in often extreme conditions, to the officers’ quarters and bridge that coordinated months-long voyages.
RRS Discovery (1962-2012)
Built (Rebuilt) | Hall Russell, Aberdeen (1962) Estaleiros Navais, Viana do Castelo, Portugal (1992) |
| Science Career | 382 Research Cruises (1962-90, 1992-2012) |
| Number of People (Berths) | 22 Officers & Crew, 28 Scientists |
| Size | Length: 100m, Beam: 18m, Draught: 7m |
| Tonnage | 3,000 |
| Top Speed | 11km (max: 12.5 knots) |
| Propulsion | Diesel-Electric System, Engine Propulsion Motors x4, 360° Bow Azimuth Thruster |
Spanning over five decades of ocean exploration, the RRS Discovery III witnessed extraordinary transformations in marine science and shipboard technology including surveying the ocean floor, measuring ocean currents, monitoring climate change, and discovering new species.
From the installation of its first computer to the major 1991 refit that stripped the vessel back to its core and rebuilt it. Over 50 years RRS Discovery III evolved with the science it supported, technologies were not only adopted but developed and refined onboard, enabling generations of scientists to push the boundaries of what was possible.
RRS Discovery (2012-Present)
| Built | Construcciones Navales p. Freire, Spain (2012) |
| Science Career | >200 Research Cruises |
| Number of People (Berths) | 22 Officers & Crew, 32 Scientists |
| Size | Length: 100m, Beam: 18m, Draught: 7m, Number of Decks: 10 |
| Tonnage (GRT) | 6,000 |
| Top Speed | 12 (14mph, 22kph) |
| Propulsion | Dynamic Positioning System, Stern Azimuth Thrusters x2, Retractable Azimuth Thruster, Water-Jet Thruster |
The present RRS Discovery was launched in Vigo, Spain in 2012 and named by HRH The Princess Royal on 10 October 2013. Discovery will continue the work of her illustrious predecessors in enhancing our knowledge of the ocean.
From the science bays to the precision of the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) control room, life on board the RRS Discovery is a blend of exploration and expertise. The image gallery above captures the many aspects of scientific endeavour at sea from deploying equipment off the deck, monitoring data in real time, navigating from the bridge and collaborating across disciplines. Together, they offer a behind-the-scenes look at the teamwork and technology that drive marine research forward today.
