John Biscoe resupplying Base F in 1958.
History
United Kingdom
Namesake	John Biscoe
Operator	British Antarctic Survey
Builder	Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley
Yard number	778
Launched	11 June 1956
In service	1956
Out of service	1991
Homeport	Stanley, Falkland Islands
Identification	IMO number: 5173321
Fate	Sold 1992
Cyprus
Name	Fayza Express
Operator	Fayza Shipping Co. Ltd.
Identification	IMO number: 5173321
Fate	Scrapped 2 March 2004 at Aliaga, Turkey
General characteristics
Class and type	Royal Research Ship; survey vessel; later used as passenger/cargo vessel
Tonnage	1,554 GRT; 615 NRT
Length	220 ft (67 m)
Beam	40 ft (12 m)
Draught	18.42 ft (5.61 m)
Propulsion	Diesel electric
Complement	33 crew, 34 scientists
Notes	[1]

The RRS John Biscoe was a supply and research vessel used by the British Antarctic Survey between 1956 and 1991.

History

An earlier vessel, RRS John Biscoe (1944) operated from 1947-56. Both were named after the English explorer John Biscoe, who discovered parts of Antarctica in the early 1830s.

John Biscoe II was replaced by RRS James Clark Ross in 1991. After decommissioning, she was sold and eventually scrapped in 2004 under the name Fayza Express.^[1]

Command

Biscoe's first visit to Halley Research Station, in 1959/60 was under the veteran captain, Bill Johnston.^[2]

From 1975, joint Masters of John Biscoe were Malcolm Phelps and Chris Elliott.^[3] Chris Elliott had joined BAS as Third Officer on John Biscoe in 1967, becoming Second Officer in 1970. He established the successful Offshore Biological Programme cruises and helped superintend the building of replacement James Clark Ross. Elliott was awarded the Polar Medal in 2004 and an MBE in 2005.^[3] The sea passage between Adelaide Island and Jenny Island is named after Chris Elliott.^[4]