The RRS Charles Darwin was a Royal Research Ship belonging to the British Natural Environment Research Council. Since 2006, she has been the geophysical survey vessel, RV Ocean Researcher,

History

RRS Charles Darwin was built in 1985 by Appledore Shipbuilders in Devon. Named after the eminent English naturalist, she was used primarily for research in oceanography, geology, and geophysics. After 21 years of service, Charles Darwin was retired in June 2006, and replaced by the RRS James Cook.[8]

Purchased by Gardline Marine Sciences Limited of Great Yarmouth, she was renamed RV Ocean Researcher, and now conducts geophysical surveys.[9]

Ocean Researcher

Science cruises

RRS Charles Darwin carried out 180 research cruises, worldwide, in her 21 years as a Natural Environment Research Council ship. The first cruise, in 1985, in the Northeast Atlantic, was led by Professor John Gould. Researchers from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, studying climate change, have used RRS Charles Darwin to investigate the slowing of the Gulf Stream. Her final cruise was a geophysical survey for the British Geological Survey.[8]

Gallery

  • The Charles Darwin in Fairlie, Scotland, at the end of a research cruise in August 2005.
    The Charles Darwin in Fairlie, Scotland, at the end of a research cruise in August 2005.
  • Loading for its last voyage as Charles Darwin, in March, 2006.
    Loading for its last voyage as Charles Darwin, in March, 2006.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Freeman, R. B. (2007). "Charles Darwin: A companion". The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Charles Darwin". Ship Photos. Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  3. ^ "Charles Darwin". Research Ship Schedules & Information. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  4. ^ "Ocean Researcher". Sea Agent. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  5. ^ "Ocean Researcher". Ships Nostalgia. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Ocean Researcher". Ships Old and New. Retrieved 28 February 2010.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "RRS Charles Darwin". The Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Farewell to Royal Research Ship". NERC. 9 June 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
  9. ^ "Ocean Researcher". Gardline Geosurvey. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2007.