Applied Integration (AI), based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, was invited to support the final commissioning phase of the RSS Sir David Attenborough—a world-class polar research vessel designed for operations in the Arctic and Antarctic. Tees Components, manufacturer of the Tees White Gill azimuth thrusters installed aboard the vessel, required a technically capable and trusted partner to support the critical onboard commissioning stage of their advanced propulsion system.
A landmark UK research vessel
Owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the RSS Sir David Attenborough represents a major UK Government investment in polar science and oceanographic research. Built to operate in some of the harshest conditions on Earth, the vessel’s propulsion and positioning capabilities are fundamental to mission success—supporting safe berthing, stable navigation, and precise station-keeping during complex scientific operations.
The commissioning challenge
With such a prestigious and technically demanding project, there was a clear requirement for precision, reliability, and safety throughout the commissioning programme—particularly for the ship’s azimuth thruster systems, which are critical to the vessel’s manoeuvrability and operational stability in extreme marine environments.
Following successful configuration and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) , the next critical step was commissioning the thrusters onboard the vessel—ready for sea trials and deployment to polar regions.
Applied Integration’s role
Tees Components engaged Applied Integration to provide electrical and mechanical commissioning expertise. Leveraging deep industry experience and a multidisciplinary engineering team, AI deployed an experienced on-site commissioning specialist to support the final stages of integration onboard the RSS Sir David Attenborough.
AI’s support included:
- Reviewing system integration points between thruster units and the vessel’s control systems
- Verifying electrical and mechanical installation against technical schematics and compliance requirements
- Working with vessel engineers to support interfacing with the Dynamic Positioning System (DPS)
- Testing and validating operational performance during the pre-sea trial phase
Sea trials and validation
The programme culminated in a scheduled three-day sea trial, where AI worked directly with vessel crew and technical stakeholders to validate thruster performance under real-world dynamic conditions. This represented the final commissioning milestone before the vessel was declared operationally ready.
Outcome: operational readiness in extreme environments
Applied Integration successfully delivered comprehensive commissioning support, ensuring the thruster systems were fully operational, safety-verified, and ready for deployment.
The vessel’s four 60-T3S-QR azimuth thrusters can operate independently or as part of the ship’s sophisticated Dynamic Positioning System, enabling pinpoint station-keeping—an essential capability for research activities and safe berthing in ice-covered and turbulent waters.
Comment from Applied Integration
Graham King, Director at Applied Integration, said:
“We are extremely proud to have supported Tees Components with the RSS Sir David Attenborough vessel. To be part of such an amazing project is important to us.”
Trusted commissioning support for safety-critical systems
This project demonstrates Applied Integration’s capability as a leading UK systems integrator, specialising in Industry 4.0 technologies, safety-critical systems, and end-to-end engineering support. With a growing team of 60+ engineers, AI continues to deliver trusted solutions across the defence, energy, and marine sectors.
