Contract covers full refit and maintenance programmes on the National Oceanography Centre’s flagship research vessels RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook
APCL A&P Falmouth has been awarded a multi-million-pound contract by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) to deliver comprehensive refit and maintenance programmes on its two flagship research vessels, RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook.
The NOC, a global leader in oceanographic research and autonomous marine technology innovation, operates the vessels on behalf of the Natural Environment Research Council (UKRI-NERC). The contract will see APCL A&P Falmouth carrying out a range of ship repair and maintenance activities, supporting the vessels’ continued deployment on major international oceanographic missions.
APCL A&P Falmouth has been awarded the contract to support the two world-class research vessels following an open procurement programme led by the NOC in December 2025. The yard secured the two-vessel contract thanks to its strategic location, extensive facilities, specialist capabilities, and experienced project management team.
Both the RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook are fitted with sub-bottom profiling and multi-beam equipment for mapping the seabed. Dynamic positioning capability means that Remotely Operated Vehicles can also be used. They both carry a wide range of cranes and gantries with associated winches and wires, which facilitate many different types of equipment to be deployed on the ship. This enables delivery of complex, interdisciplinary ocean science from the ice edge to the equator, from the sea surface to 6000 m depth.
RRS Discovery will be the first vessel to arrive at APCL A&P Falmouth for her dry docking this Spring.
David Mc Ginley, Chief Executive of APCL Group, said: “APCL Group is delighted to have signed this latest two vessel contract with the National Oceanography Centre which will see APCL A&P Falmouth deliver maintenance support to the RRS Discovery and the RRS James Cook.
“The combination of APCL’s strategic locations and technical expertise will enable us to complete vital maintenance work under tight time schedules – which will minimize the downtime of NOC’s fleet.”
Eleanor Darlington, Deputy Director of Research Infrastructure at NOC, commented: “We are looking forward to working with APCL Falmouth in the maintenance and repair of the RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook. Both ships are essential to the research work of our teams, helping us to develop and expand our knowledge of the ocean.”
Mike Spicer Managing Director of APCL A&P Falmouth, added: “APCL A&P Falmouth is delighted to have secured this contract. Contracts such as these not only benefit the APCL Group, but the wider Cornish economy and we look forward to welcoming the RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook to Falmouth in 2026.”
