This government-funded project to build a new research vessel able to withstand extended time within the polar region was announced in 2014, with the designer, Rolls-Royce and shipyard Cammell Laird appointed in 2015.

Due to the nature of the vessel’s work when at sea, it was imperative that the diesel engines emitted the least noise and vibration emissions possible, both onboard and out into the natural environment. Cammell Laird, who already knew of the word class silencing properties of a Rubber Design exhaust mounting system, requested MIT bid for this portion of the vessels build.

Working from plans supplied by Rolls-Royce, the expertise of Rubber Design meant MIT were able to provide a bespoke system built precisely to design specifications. The suspension system comprised of 148 fixed-point mounts, 142 stabilisers, and 30 stainless steel bellows, forming the complete section that will hold in place the chosen exhaust system.

Shipyard: Cammell Laird – Yard #1390

Owner: NERC – National Environment Research Centre

Type of vessel: Polar Research Vessel/Ice Breaker

Main Engines: Diesel-electric, 2 x Bergen B33 45L6A (2x3600kW), 2 x Bergen B33 45L9A (2x5400kW)

Total Power: (2x5400kW) & (2x3600kW)

Marine Gears: CPP

Overall length: 128.9m

Top Speed: 17.5kts

Read the full news release HERE.

Images courtesy with thanks from Rolls-Royce