RRS Discovery: Vital repair works officially begin on 123-year-old ship

Conservation works have officially started on the RRS Discovery ship.

The 123-year-old vessel is in need of urgent repairs after over a century’s worth of wind, rain and Antarctic conditions.

The works, totalling more than £1m, have begun with the removal of the cuddies.

Discovery Point’s ship and facility manager Ali Gellatly said: “It’s really really vital work. The ship’s been through a huge amount in its life.

“It’s exposed to the elements every single day, so what we’re doing here is making sure the ship is as water tight and secure so the timers are in the best possible position it can be.

“It’s really, really important this can take place.”

The Discovery is most famed for being the first ship to embark on a mission to Antarctica under the command of Robert Falcon Scott in 1901.

The data collected by the crew is still used today to measure climate change.

Specialist teams have been drafted in to remove the cuddies, which weigh nearly two tonnes each, to relieve the stress on the weight-bearing beams.

A grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund is covering the costs of the conservation work.

Jason Struthers is from JPS Restoration who are carrying out the work.

He said: “We have specialist areas where we have structural members where we have to slowly separate one at a time, make new replacements, make and steam bend sections in place.

“These have to be methodically done. There’s an urgency just now to it.”

Visitors will still be welcome aboard the Discovery while works are being carried out.