Tees Components adds thrust to RSS David Attenborough launch

A family-run heavy engineer added extra momentum to the launch of a £200 million polar research ship.

Tees Components supplied four of its Tees White Gill thrusters to shipbuilders constructing the 15,000-tonne RSS Sir David Attenborough, which will carry out Arctic and Antarctic projects.

Bosses say the 60-T3S-QR azimuth thrusters have been designed to allow the ship to overcome the challenges of station keeping at sea and move in any direction, even in heavy ice.

Tees Components, based in North Skelton, east Cleveland, designed, made and commissioned the 360-degree thrusters for the vessel, which is owned by the Natural Environmental Research Council and operated by the British Antarctic Survey.

Sharon Lane, Tees Components’ managing director, said: “Everyone here is proud of the contribution we have made to the RSS Sir David Attenborough.

“The Tees White Gill thrusters are at the forefront of design and application and have developed an international reputation for their innovation and excellence.

“These thrusters are an example of great British design and expertise and reflects our engineering capabilities.”

The 130-metre long RSS Sir David Attenborough was launched at the Cammell Laird shipyard, in Birkenhead, by Sir David and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge earlier this week.

The vessel hit the headlines in 2016 after an online naming poll overwhelmingly endorsed the title of Boaty Mcboatface.

Instead, the vessel was named in honour of naturalist Sir David, with the humorous moniker transferred to its remotely-operated submersible vehicle.