RRS Sir David Attenborough is an Ice class research ship that operates in the polar regions for UKRI research activities. The ship is very heavy towards the bow due to the ice strengthening. To correct the Ballast the ship requires 477 tonnes of lead ballast in the aft of the ship. The lead is to be inserted in man handleable blocks into a specially designed void space within the aft peak ballast tank.
The lead requires to be protected to prevent noise and vibration transmitting through the hull that would interfere with the acoustic equipment and create vibration.