Speaker opens polar exhibition in Parliament

The Polar Class 5 ice-strengthened ship has spent the last year in the Antarctic ice performing science trials to improve our understanding of climate change.

As a passionate advocate for the British Overseas Territories (OTs), Sir Lindsay Hoyle is particularly interested in the work of the team behind the RRS Sir David Attenborough because of its visits to the British Antarctic Territory - the UK’s largest overseas territory.

At a special event attended by the ship’s namesake, naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, the Speaker unveiled ‘First Ice’ - a series of 12 photos from the British Antarctic Survey, plus a ship’s model - in Portcullis House.

"It is the most remote, hostile and uninhabited part of the world, yet Antarctica plays such an important role in teaching us about the impact of our actions on climate change," he said.

"So, it is very exciting for MPs and staff to be able to see - and hear about – some of RRS Sir David Attenborough’s findings during its first year in the Antarctic."

The exhibition shows RSS Sir David Attenborough sailing through ice; the deployment of advanced underwater monitoring systems, similar to the mini-submarine, Boaty McBoatface - and some of the scientists, engineers, technicians and crew onboard the ship.

Like its now retired predecessor research vessels – RRS Ernest Shackleton and RRS James Clark Ross – RRS Sir David Attenborough is registered in the Falkland Islands capital Stanley and will be a regular visitor to the port to refuel and receive cargo en route to the Antarctic.

The £200m floating laboratory was first launched into the River Mersey in July 2018.

The exhibition was organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Polar Regions.