RRS Discovery

after her 1992 Ship Life Extension Programme

Subsequent name:                                                                          
Official Number:                             304401

Class:                                             Royal Research Ship (RRS)

Pennant No:

Laid down:                                 
Builder:                                           Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen                 
Launched:                                      3 July 1962
Into Service:                                  17 December 1962
Out of service:                               14 December 2012
Fate:                                               Scrapped

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:

At some stage during their lives, 3 of the Royal Research Ships saw service as RFA’s

3 July 1962  launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen as Yard Nr:  899 named DISCOVERY for the National  Institute of Oceanography. Named after Robert  Falcon Scott’s ship

17 December 1962 completed and manned by the RFA. Captain E L Evans RFA appointed as Master

18 December 1962 sailed from Aberdeen

20 December 1962 berthed No: 1 Berth off Hamble Oil Fuel Jetty. Loaded 92.6 tons of fuel oil. Sailing later the same day

21 December 1962 entered Plymouth Sound and berthed on South Quay, Milbank Docks

3 January 1963 took on charge two Chronometers No: 12612 & 4742 from the Devonport Chart Depot

5 January 1963 sailed Milbank Docks to sea on trials

7 January 1963 arrived at Plymouth Sound and entered Milbay Graving Dock

11 January 1963 the Graving Dock was flooded up

12 January 1963 sailed Milbay Docks to sea for further trials

14 January 1963 entered Plymouth Sound and berthed on South Quay, Milbay Docks

15 January 1963 loaded stores and 72 tons of fresh water

18 January 1963 No: 1 Motor Lifeboat fell into the Dock while being hosited and was damaged

25 January 1963 sailed Milbay Docks

27 January 1963 passed Beachy Head, Dover Harbour and entered the River Thames with a pilot berthing on bouys off Hays Wharf, Pool of London

7 March 1964 sailed from Aden

5 April 1964 arrived at Mauritius

10 April 1964 sailed from Mauritius

9 May 1964 arrived at Cochin

12 May 1964 sailed from Chochin

6 June 1964 arrived at the Seychelles

9 June 1964 sailed from the Seychelles

1 July 1964 arrived at Mauritius

5 July 1964 sailed from Mauritius

28 July 1964 arrived at Mombassa

2 August 1964 sailed from Mombassa

23 August 1964 arrived at Aden

26 August 1964 sailed from Aden

9 September 1964 called at Aden when working in the Red Sea

28 September 1964 arrived at Plymouth

1 January 1965 berthed at Milbay Docks, Plymouth

4 January 1965 entered Willoughby Dry Dock, Plymouth

11 January 1965 moved out of Willoughby Dry Dock, Plymouth

12 January 1965 sailed from Plymouth for Falmouth arriving later the same day and then loaded 534 tons of fuel oil

14 January 1965 sailed from Falmouth for Plymouth anchoring in Plymouth Sound

15 January 1965 entered Milbay Docks and berthed

28 January 1965 at Milbay Docks loaded 8,000 lbs of explosives in 160 boxes

29 January 1965 at Milbay Docks loaded a further 2,000 lbs in 40 boxes

2 February 1965 sailed from Milbay Docks

28 February 1965 arrived at Punta Delgado, Azores

4 March 1965 sailed from Punta Delgado, Azores

1 April 1965 arrived at and anchored in Plymouth Sound later berthing at Milbay Docks

9 August 1965 at Plymouth

1 January 1966 Captain J D Way RFA was Master

3 January 1966 loaded 37 tons of fresh water

10 January 1966 entered Willowbys dry dock at Plymouth

14 January 1966 left the dry dock

20 January 1966 Captain R H A Davies RFA appointed as Master

1 February 1966 sailed Milbay Docks

5 February 1966 at anchor in Plymouth Sound

7 February 1966 berthed at Milbay Docks

15 February 1966 at anchore at Jenny Cliffe Bay

16 February 1966 sailed for Maderia

8 March 1966 berthed at Funchal, Maderia and loaded 332.2 tons of fuel oil

12 March 1966 Assistant Steward F J Poole discharged dead – found dead on a beach. Sailed from Funchal Maderia

18 March 1966 arrived at Maderia

30 March 1966 sailed from Maderia

6 April 1966 berthed at Milbay Docks, Plymouth

15 April 1966 sailed from Milbay Docks, Plymouth for Portland. Sailed later the same from Portland for La Corunna, Spain

19 April 1966 berthed at La Corunna, Spain sailing later the same day

2 May 1966 berthed at La Corunna, Spain

5 May 1966 sailed from Law Corunna, Spain

21 May 1966 anchored at Jenny Cliff Bay

22 May 1966 berthed at Milbay Docks, Plymouth

31 May 1966 sailed from Milbay Docks, Plymouth

1 June 1966 sailed from Plymouth Sound

4 July 1966 sailed from Plymouth for Maderia

28 July 1966 berthed at Funchal, Maderia – loaded 297 tons of fuel oil

31 July 1966 sailed from Funchal, Maderia

10 August 1966 anchored in Jenny Cliff Bay

11 August 1966 berthed at Milbay Docks, Plymouth

22 August 1966 entered Willoughby’s Dry Dock, Plymouth assisted by the tug Alexandra

25 August 1956 moved out of the dry dock into Milbay Docks assisted by the tug Alexandra

1 September 1966 loaded 21 tons of fresh water. Sailed from Plymouth for Cobh, Ireland

15 September 1966 berthed at Cobh, Ireland

16 September 1966 sailed from Cobh, Ireland

29 September 1966 anchored in Plymouth Sound

30 September 1966 berthed at Milbay Docks, Plymouth

7 October 1966 anchored in Plymouth Sound

8 October 1966 sailed from Plymouth Sound

30 October 1966 berthed at Funchal, Maderia

31 October 1966 at Funchal, Maderia loaded 134.8 tons of fuel oil and 167 tons of water

1 November 1966 sailed from Funchal, Maderia

14 November 1966 berthed at Casablanca, Morroco

16 November 1966 sailed from Casablanca, Morroco

24 November 1966 off Cape da Roca

28 November 1966 anchored in Plymouth Sound later berthing at Milbay Docks and entered refit

6 December 1988 Captain W R Town RFA appointed as Master

29 December 1966 39 feet of copper cable found missing from forehold. Police informed

13 January 1968 at Milbay Docks, Plymouth

1 January 1969 Boatswain Harold Vale Moreton awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil) in the New Years Honours List.

Boatswain Harold Vale Moreton’s British Empire Medal (Civil) & Polar Medal

© DNW Ltd

Boatswain Harold V Moreton BEM

© DNW Ltd

Boatswain Harold V Moreton BEM being presented with his medal

by Mrs Shirley Williams MP at Southampton

© DNW Ltd

1 October 1969 owners now styled as the Natural  Enviroment  Research Council (NERC) National  Marine Facilities Division (NMFD) and manning was subsequently undertaken by  them

18 December 1969 the last RFA personnel departed

28 November 1976 at Santa Cruze, Tenerife

21 November 1979 ship visited by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh while berthed on the Victoria Embankment, London

November 1984 at Famouth

1 April 1989 at Barry, South Wales

1992 underwent a Ship Life Extention Programme with her hull being lengthened by 30m, the superstructure was rebuilt, her main machinery was upgraded, new deck machinery including cranes plus a 20t A-frame twas fitted

19 August 1993 arrived and berthed on the River Tyne

7 September 1993 sailed from the River Tyne to sea

30 November 1993 sailed from the River Tyne to sea

23 December 1993 sailed from the River Tyne to sea

June 2008 sailed from the River Mersey to sea

22 April 2011 arrived at Southampton

14 December 2012 taken out of service

28 September 2013 she was replaced by a new built vessel of the same name