Thomas Weaver

Captain Tom Weaver took command of HMS Protector this year and is leading the ship’s company of 70, including Royal Navy Hydrographers, Royal Marines and guest scientists on their mission to conduct survey operations and support scientific research in the Antarctic Peninsula. The survey vessel is deployed 330 days a year and sails the waters of Antarctica and the Southern Hemisphere during the Austral summer and off-season can be found in the high north maintaining icebreaking experience. 

As one of only two icebreakers operated by the UK - the other being British Antarctic Survey’s RRS Sir David Attenborough - the ship’s missions include carrying out hydrographic surveys of the area to improve the safety of navigation, providing support to UK research stations and Antarctic science and upholding the UK’s commitment to the Antarctic Treaty within British Antarctic Territory. This year the ship embarked scientists from Portsmouth University studying the impact of tourism and climate change on the Antarctic, and members of Oceanites, a group that collects data on penguin colonies to understand changing Antarctic Peninsula – an area that has warmed faster than anywhere else. 

Speaking on his current role, Tom said: “When people think of the Royal Navy, their first thought might be of more traditional warships and submarines, but today’s Royal Navy does so much more. HMS Protector is a unique ship, supporting scientific research and environmental efforts in one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable regions. We are reminded every day by the stunning wildlife and environment that surrounds us that operating in Antarctica is a rare privilege. 

“As Captain, you must constantly assess the risks posed by ice and weather and the isolation of Antarctica is always on my mind – help is a long way away. Conditions can change quickly, so while it might be safe to take the ship into a bay, for example, you must consider if you will get blocked in by moving ice when you try and escape. Another challenge we face is operating in Drake Passage and the Scotia Sea, the body of water that lies between South American and Antarctica and home to some of the world’s most treacherous ocean conditions.  

“It is a difficult and challenging role but the training we receive is first-class and prepares you for the unexpected. Operating in ice and conducting boat and cargo operations in this environment carries risk, but I have a fantastic and experienced crew onboard, and everybody knows what to do.  

“As part of our deployment, we do a lot of work updating charts and improving navigational safety of Antarctic waters for the international community. Vast areas are still unsurveyed and we can survey large areas with the multi-beam echo sounding technology we have onboard and shallow water with our deployable survey boat. We’re also there as a presence in the British Antarctic Territory as the UK is one of the original signatories to the Antarctic Treaty and we can also host scientists onboard who have the opportunity of collecting samples and data from this delicate region that is on the front line of climate change. There are added risks to the environment from the increase in tourism and illegal fishing in the region, all of which we monitor. I’ve witnessed clear evidence of glaciers retreating at a rapid rate, and the number of large icebergs increasing as they carve off from the ice sheet.”  

Born in Wolverhampton and attending schools in Suffolk and Kenya, Tom joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer in 2001 after graduating from Keele in 2000. As a junior officer he deployed to the Gulf in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and returned there on several occasions to work both in ships and the operational headquarters and was the commissioning Navigating Officer in HMS Clyde, navigating her across the Atlantic to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.   

Progressing through the ranks, he has commanded at every level, including the Type 23 Frigate HMS Sutherland from 2018 to 2020, conducting numerous operations supporting homeland defence, North Atlantic operations in support of the nuclear deterrent and led a UK/US/Norwegian Task Group into the Barents Sea.  

He joined the Maritime Operations Centre as the Fleet Operations Officer in November 2020 and spent two years supporting Commander Operations and the surface fleet during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was awarded an OBE for his contribution to front line operations. Promoted to Captain in November 2022, Tom joined the Ministry of Defence as Head of Naval Strategy before being selected to return to sea to command HMS Protector.   

Looking back on his time at Keele and his International Relations degree, Tom said: “I came to Keele on an open day and really liked the campus vibe, rather than feeling lost in a city somewhere. I had a fantastic time at the university, made friends for life and enjoyed playing hockey, which I carried on in the Navy.   

“Studying International Relations taught me you never know what is round the corner when it comes to politics and world events. Things can change quickly and over the years I’ve found my degree has applied directly to my job on many occasions. Operating with coalitions of other navies and visiting nations around the globe, it is vital to understand other cultural perspectives and different historical experiences because we are always more effective when working together.”