The Royal Navy icebreaking research vessel HMS Protector has begun undergoing a major overhaul that will enable it to carry and deploy unmanned survey devices.
As the ship undergoes another cycle of scheduled "deep maintenance," which is carried out every five years to help prolong its service life, it will also be fitted with additional facilities that will make it suitable for operating autonomous survey vehicles.
Once the overhaul is complete, the crew will undergo operational sea training before Protector deploys in the autumn in time for the height of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The ship is expected to make another visit to Antarctica during this period.