Exhibition and events programme in Harwich, 1st – 22nd September 2021

Under the pilotage of Harwich Haven Authority we got our first glimpse of the new British Antarctic Survey vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough, as she arrived on Tuesday 20 July to her ‘home’ port of Harwich. The state-of-the-art vessel, which can accommodate 60 science officers and 30 crew members, is currently undergoing sea trails before she is signed off for polar missions. Sir David Attenborough described the decision to name the ship after him as the ‘greatest of honours’ and called it ‘a key to the future salvage of our planet’.

Captain John Harper commented: “We’re very excited to be in Harwich for the first time, and are grateful to Harwich Haven Authority for their warm welcome. We’ve spent the past few weeks at sea carrying out various test and trials and it’s been brilliant getting to know the ship and its capabilities ahead of its first polar mission.”