Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether naval support will be provided to RRS Sir David Attenborough in the South Atlantic during the 2026/27 Antarctic season, following the withdrawal of HMS Protector.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, HMS Protector will not deploy to Antarctica for the 2026/27 season. The Ministry of Defence is working apace with partners across Government to develop options to support the UK’s Antarctic requirements in the absence of an ice patrol ship in 2026/27 and restore an ice patrol capability as soon as possible.

The Defence Investment Plan announced plans to replace HMS Protector with a more modern variant to maintain this essential presence and support Government activities in the Arctic and around the British Antarctic Territory. Decisions on the method of procurement and the exact replacement timeline will be taken in due course.