It ’s all over . The Natural Environment Research Council ( NERC ) has announced the winner of their massively anticipate online vote to name their $ 290 million diametric research ship . And the victor is … RRS Sir David Attenborough .
As you might have remark from the hugehype surroundingthe public vote , there was a much more popular prompting , by the name of “ Boaty McBoatface . ” After the jokey hypnotism went viral across Facebook and Twitter , Boaty McBoatface received a massive 124,000 right to vote , while Attenborough ’s name received around 11,000 . However , the net decision was announced by Jo Johnson , the U.K. ’s Universities and Science Minister .
Loyal supporter of Boaty McBoatface ’s suit need not be disappointed , though . The spirit of Boaty McBoatface will hold up on as the name of the ship ’s high - tech remotely operated undersea vehicle .
We are delighted to denote that#BoatyMcBoatfacewill inhabit on as a high - tech remotely operated undersea vehiclepic.twitter.com/FsuExzlvWI
— NERC ( @NERCscience)May 6 , 2016
Among the many reasons the name was not pick , perhaps the most important was that the ship will operate in dangerous water . Were the speculative to happen , such as it sinking , the name would perhaps not be so amusing if friend and relative had lost loved ones .
Sir David Attenborough , the televisual caption and born - skill revivalist who sour 90 on Sunday , was say to be “ sincerely honored ” by the result . For over six decades , his intellect - ball up wildlife documentaries and work within broadcast medium has think of , inspired , and informed trillion .
James Hand , the former BBC giver who suggested the name in the first place , also seemed fairly happy with the decisiveness . On twitter , he posted this statement :
My persuasion on#BoatyMcBoatfaceliving on ! Wo n’t be saying anything else , so please contact@NERCsciencefor more.pic.twitter.com/NtHJyfeMRc
— James Hand ( @JamesHand)May 6 , 2016
Furthermore , the NERC and the U.K. government have been thrilled with the publicity the competition has bring , and go for it ’s foster interest in their significant inquiry .
In agovernment press firing , Jo Johnson MP , enounce : “ The ship has captured the resourcefulness of millions .
“ The public provide some truly inspirational and creative names , and while it was a hard decision I ’m delighted that our state - of - the - nontextual matter frigid research ship will be named after one of the nation ’s most cherish broadcaster and natural scientist .
“ This vessel will carry the Attenborough name for X to come , as it fulfils its foreign mission to research the oceans and put Britain at the forefront of elbow grease to preserve our cherished marine surround . ”
The RRS Sir David Attenborough will set sail in 2019 , along with state - of - the - art equipment and onboard lab to facilitate our understanding of the issue of climate change on the Antarctic Ocean ’s mood and ecosystems .
