The UK's high-profile new polar research ship has returned to the Cammell Laird shipyard for checks after a problem with a lifeboat.

UK accident investigators revealed in March that two crew members were injured during a lifeboat drill on the 15,600-gt Sir David Attenborough (built 2021).

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the seafarers were trapped inside the boat when it rolled on to its side during a launching test at Loch Buie, Scotland.

Operator British Antarctic Survey (BAS) BAS told TradeWinds that the ship has not failed its trials.

"The purpose of trials is to identify and fix technical issues," a spokeswoman said.

"During a lifeboat drill the deployment mechanism malfunctioned and the decision was taken to adjust the trials programme so that the lifeboat and other technical issues identified during trials can be fixed," she added.

There is currently no delay to the overall trials programme, the spokeswoman said.

"Scientific equipment that was due to be installed in Norway will now be carried out at Cammell Laird," she added.

The vessel had been undergoing trials since early February to test manoeuvring, anchoring and engineering systems.

Complex ship

BAS said the lifeboat deployment mechanism malfunctioned on 4 March. The crew members suffered minor injuries.

BAS had notified the UK marine polar research community in March of its intention to re-schedule the Sir David Attenborough's ice trials, science capability and equipment testing, and the planned Antarctic "science rehearsal cruise".

"Although trials and training are going very well, the impacts of Covid-19 on supply chains and international travel, combined with additional safety measures required to prevent infection of shipyard workers and BAS mariners, have caused significant delays," BAS added at the time.

Travel restrictions affecting Norway made it impossible to get specialists on board.

Time running out?

BAS now faces a race against time to ensure the ship achieves seaworthiness for a trip to Antarctica later this year to resupply stations and deliver essential equipment and supplies for the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration.

The £200m ($279m) vessel was built at Cammell Laird and was delivered in November.

The ship was launched in 2019 by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The research ship had already shot to public notoriety when it was the subject of an online naming poll in 2016.

Boaty McBoatface was the winning name selected by the British public, although this was wisely dropped by the government.

Lifeboat accidents have been a recurring hazard for seafarers. Last year three crew members on board a Torm-owned LR2 tanker were injured in an accident off the coast of Guinea.

The incident occurred on the Denmark-flagged, 109,672-dwt Torm Maren (built 2008) during a lifeboat drill.