APCL A&P Falmouth Wins Multi-Million Pound Contract to Support Environmental Research Vessels..

APCL A&P Falmouth has secured a multi-million-pound ship repair contract with the National Oceanography Centre to deliver the refit and maintenance programmes on RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook.

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) undertakes world leading ocean research in large scale oceanography and ocean autonomy technology innovation. NOC operates two state-of-the-art global research vessels, RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook, which are owned by the NERC: Natural Environment Research Council (UKRI-NERC).

APCL A&P Falmouth has been awarded the contract to support the two world-class research ships following an open procurement programme facilitated by NOC in December 2025.

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.

APCL Falmouth has been awarded the two vessel-contract due to the combination of its location, facilities, capabilities and world class project managers. The facility operates around the clock to deliver ship repair services to a wide range of specialist vessels.

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.”