RRS Discovery (1962)

{{About|the 1962 vessel|Scott's 1901 ship|RRS Discovery|other ships of this name|RRS Discovery (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = RRS Discovery AYool.JPG | Ship caption = RRS Discovery }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = United Kingdom | Ship flag = 60px | Ship name = RRS Discovery | Ship owner = NERC National Marine Facilities Division | Ship operator = | Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Hall Russell, Aberdeen{{csr|register=MSI|id=5090660|shipname=Discovery|accessdate=19 January 2021}} | Ship yard number = 899 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 1962 | Ship launched = 3 July 1962 | Ship completed = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship out of service = 14 December 2012 | Ship registry = | Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|5090660}} {{MMSI Number|233882000}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Rrs-Discovery-5090660.html | title=RRS Discovery (IMO: 5090660) | publisher=Vessel Tracker | access-date=7 June 2009}} Call Sign: GLNE ICES Code: 74E3 | Ship fate = Scrapped Ghent 27 February 2013 | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = *Royal Research Ship DTp VII, Lloyds 100A1 | Ship tonnage = *{{GT|3008}} {{DWT|4378}} | Ship length = 90.0 m | Ship beam = 14.0 m | Ship height = | Ship draught = 5.52 m (full load) | Ship draft = | Ship depth = 7.83 m | Ship decks = | Ship ice class = | Ship endurance = 55 days | Ship power = 3716 kW | Ship propulsion = Diesel-electric system with 2 × Mirrlees Blackstone ESL6 and 2 × Mirrlees Blackstone ELS9 Mk2 Diesel engines driving a propulsion motor. 360° azimuth thruster unit at bow | Ship speed = 11.0 knots (max: 12.5 knots) | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = 9 Officers; 13 Crew; 28 Scientists | Ship notes = }}

RRS Discovery was a British Royal Research Ship operated by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

RRS Discovery (III) was built in Aberdeen in 1962 and named after Robert Falcon Scott's 1901 ship, RRS Discovery. Until 2006, she was the largest general purpose oceanographic research vessel in use in the United Kingdom. Measuring 90 metres in length, and fitted with a broad range of oceanographic equipment, Discovery could also accommodate containerized laboratories. She had berths for 28 scientific staff, and the ability to spend up to 45 days at sea.{{Cite web| url=http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/sites/facilities/marine/discovery.asp| title=RRS Discovery| publisher=Natural Environment Research Council| access-date=5 June 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528221744/http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/sites/facilities/marine/discovery.asp| archive-date=28 May 2009| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}} Her last major overhaul was in 1991,{{Cite web| url=http://www.marine.gov.uk/discovery.htm| title=RRS Discovery| publisher=Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology| access-date=2008-01-04| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206091509/http://www.marine.gov.uk/discovery.htm| archivedate=6 December 2007| df=dmy-all}} when a new superstructure and power plant were installed and her hull lengthened by 10 metres.{{Cite web|title=National Marine Facilities - Sea Systems: RSS Discovery|url=http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/nmf/sea_sys_index.php?page=disco|publisher=National Oceanography Centre - University of Southampton|access-date=13 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716095259/http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/nmf/sea_sys_index.php?page=disco|archive-date=16 July 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Discovery carried out oceanographic and marine biology research from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. She operated as part of a fleet maintained by the NERC, National Marine Facilities Division (NMFD), along with the larger RRS James Cook.

In February 2000, Discovery observed some of the largest waves, called rogue waves, up to 29.1 metres (95.5 feet), recorded by scientific instruments up to that time.Holliday, NP, MJ Yelland, RW Pascal, VR Swail, PK Taylor, CR Griffiths, and EC Kent (2006). [http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2006/2005GL025238.shtml Were extreme waves in the Rockall Trough the largest ever recorded?] Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 33, L05613

Discovery was scrapped at Ghent on 27 February 2013.