Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 72
72
Accepted in Part
Conduct comprehensive review of NERC's 'single vessel plus' policy by 2030.
Conclusion
By 2030, the Natural Environment Research Council should conduct a comprehensive review of the “single vessel plus” policy, evaluating its impact on Antarctic and Arctic marine science, particularly regarding the delays to approved research projects. The review should focus on optimising the use of the RRS Sir David Attenborough, assessing the need for additional vessels, and addressing scheduling conflicts that impede research. Additionally, it should consider the costs and logistics of chartering additional ships since the introduction of the policy and offer recommendations to improve scheduling efficiency, resource allocation, and overall productivity in Antarctic and Arctic missions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 295) 107
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, detailing existing annual and long-term review frameworks (like the Cruise Programme Review Group, CPEB, and BAS forward looks) that already address aspects of science delivery, scheduling, resource allocation, and alternative vessels. They do not commit to a new comprehensive review of the 'single vessel plus' policy by 2030 as specifically recommended, but rely on these ongoing processes.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially accepts these recommendations. 75. NERC has a well-established framework for reviewing, prioritising and implementing any necessary changes related to infrastructure support to enable excellent marine and polar science delivery. The Cruise Programme Review Group meets annually to conduct an independent deep dive review into all aspects of science delivery (including scheduling efficiency, access to NERC marine facilities, and resource allocation) across NERC’s research vessels and marine equipment, raising all risks with recommended mitigations and improvements to the Cruise Programme Executive Board (CPEB). In addition to responding and acting on any marine science delivery, finance and reputational risks, CPEB manages scheduling conflicts across marine facilities to ensure that all funded marine science activities are delivered in a timely fashion and to the highest standard of service delivery. 76. CPEB works alongside the Polar Research & Operations Board (PROB), with the latter holding responsibility for the long-term prioritisation and scheduling of all Antarctic and Arctic science capabilities alongside the logistics and UK presence requirements. Both CPEB and PROB engage the use of published prioritisation criteria (PROB prioritisation framework; Prioritisation criteria for bids for NERC ship-time) to ensure adequate delivery across research and logistics, and fair access mechanisms to the UK science community, with regular review. Both PROB and CPEB are chaired by a NERC Director and have representatives from the research community as well as ship operators. 77. At an operational level, BAS provides a 5 and 10-year forward look to ensure future delivery risks are identified, alternative delivery mechanisms are scoped (including the use of alternative vessels), and value for money of the polar infrastructure remains high. BAS also conducts a review at the end of each season to integrate lessons learned or contingency plans for identified issues into future planning. [...truncated...]