Slipping innocuously into harbour, not many would have noticed the big red ship, even fewer would know the fascinating story behind her arrival.

Royal Research Ship James Clark Ross (JRC) left the only continent in the world without a single case of Covid-19 to bring home 18 British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists, medical unit doctors and researchers, after major disruption to world-wide flights.

The BAS decided at the beginning of April to repatriate scientists, support teams and construction workers as they completed their Antarctic summer field season work.

Major disruption to international travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the virus, meant that BAS has had to find safe and secure solutions to bring its people home safely to the UK.

Sailing back to Harwich on the JRC was particularly fortunate for one eminent scientist Paul Rodehouse, who moors his yacht at Shotley marina, and went on board, before returning to his Cambridgeshire home.

The JRC stopped off at Felixstowe first to unload a huge aquarium, which will also be transported to the BAS laboratories in Cambridge for further research.

She then moved across to Parkeston to unload the rest of her Antarctic cargo and for a crew change, before sailing to Frederikshaven for a refit and some crew training, at the end of this month.

The JCR is due back in Harwich on August 3 to load up for her next Antarctic adventure, before being replaced by the shiny new RRS Sir David Attenborough.

Polar expeditions on board Royal Research Ships, undertaken by scientists like Paul look at a myriad of issues, including mapping, climate activity, biodiversity, effects on sealife, and more.

More than 100 UK scientist and researches, along with many from other parts of the world, can be working during the summer season, with numbers dropping significantly at this time of the year, which is the wintering season in the polar regions.

BAS also chartered a passenger ship, moored off the Falkland Islands and operated by Noble Caledonia, to provide quarantined accommodation and transport for 85 science, support staff and a number of construction workers who were building a new wharf at Rothera Research Station for the RRS Sir David Attenborough.

BAS staff will return to find BAS Headquarters in Cambridge closed to all but a few laboratory and facilities staff, and most people working from home.

The challenge was made more difficult due to a range of obstacles, including:

• South American routes were unavailable. MoD flights, suspended when Cape Verde officials stopped access for refuelling, resumed through Senegal following actions by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and MoD.
• Halley and Signy Research Stations are closed for the Antarctic winter.
• Rothera, King Edward Point and Bird Island research stations are now 'wintering'.

BAS also chartered a passenger ship, moored off the Falkland Islands and operated by Noble Caledonia, to provide quarantined accommodation and transport for 85 science, support staff and a number of construction workers who were building a new wharf at Rothera Research Station for the RRS Sir David Attenborough.

The Royal Research Ship RS James Clark Ross was launched by HM the Queen in 1990 and is primarily a marine research vessel for biological, oceanographic and geophysical cruises.

It is equipped with a suite of laboratories and winch systems that allows scientific equipment to be deployed astern or amidships.

The ship has an extremely low noise signature, allowing the deployment of sensitive acoustic equipment.

A swath bathymetry system was fitted in 2000. The JCR also carries out some cargo and logistical work. During the northern summer the JCR supports NERC research, largely in the Arctic.

Swan Hunter Shipbuilders, Wallsend, UK. The vessel can steam at a steady two knots through level sea ice one metre thick. To assist passage through heavy pack ice a compressed air system rolls the ship from side to side freeing the passage.

The ship was named after 19th century polar explorer Sir James Clark Ross who was a Royal Navy officer known for his explorations of the Arctic. He took part in his own Antarctic expedition from 1839 to 1843.

After two expeditions led by his uncle Sir John Ross, and four led by Sir William Parry.