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BRITAIN WON’T BE naming a polar research ship Boaty McBoatface, even though the name was voted for in droves by the public.
The €250 million ship will instead be named ‘Sir David Attenborough’ after the veteran naturalist and broadcaster.
The joke name will be given instead to a new marine research submarine.
Both vessels will be used to collect data and samples from waters in the Arctic and Antarctic.
The furore erupted when the Natural Environment Research Council launched an online poll in March asking members of the public to choose a name for its new ship.
More than 120,000 people voted for ‘Boaty McBoatface’ – several times more than supported the second most popular name.
Other suggestions included “Clifford The Big Red Boat” and “Usain Boat”.
Apologies
James Hand, who first made the ‘Boaty’ suggestion, apologised to the NERC on Twitter, saying:
I’m terribly sorry about all of this.
Announcing the decision, Science Minister Jo Johnson said the public had provided “some truly inspirational and creative names”.
“While it was a difficult decision, I’m delighted that our state-of-the-art polar research ship will be named after one of the nation’s most cherished broadcasters and natural scientists,” Johnson added.
The ship has captured the imaginations of millions, which is why we’re ensuring that the Boaty name lives on through the sub-sea vehicle that will support the research crew.
Attenborough said he was “truly honoured” by the decision, the BBC reports.
- © AFP 2016 with reporting by Daragh Brophy.
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You can’t call a submarine Boaty McBoatface! It should be Submariney McSubmarineyface
They should have called the sub “U-Boaty Mc U-Boatface”.
(Sounds a bit too German for the Brexit crowd I suppose.)
Now that’s a mouthful
That’s what she said.
Surely it should be Subby McSubface …. somebody needs to tell them!
That’s democracy folks……you don’t always get what you vote for!!
Excellent choice though.
As we discovered today!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Democracy does not work.
A nice gesture to the Sir.
Long live Sir David Attenborough!
Proper order. I hope the ship’s as cool as its namesake.
As funny as Boaty Mc Boatface would be, I’m delighted that David Attenborough is the final choice. He’s an amazing man.
Why are comments closed on the Cologne sex attacks article? The legal proceedings are in a German court I severely doubt the comments section on the journal will influence said courts decision?
Because it doesn’t involve white westerners, surprised they even reported on the proceedings against our new co-inhabitants.
A nice gesture to the great man. His production teams over the years deserve a lot of credit too, the combination of the 2 has made for some great viewing.
David mcattenboroughface and productioncrewface just doesn’t sound right though
Booooooooo!
It’s hardly as daft as calling a warship “Eithne”.
Excellent, a fitting tribute to a wonderful example of a human being and to the positivity one person can spread around the globe by being passionate, honest and hard working. Also a great example of compromise with the submarine getting the title that was too good to be wasted.
Atten McButterflyface
There is now a campaign for David Attenborough to change his name to Boaty McBoatface.
Well deserved… Great choice
How that for Anaboutface?
Proper order ..that’s a good choice and we’ll deserved
Heartbroken =(
The man’s a legend – wasn’t he the one who was flirting with Cameron Diaz on the Graham Norton show a while back
A great choice and appropriate recognition for a man who has raised environmental awareness to a level previously unknown. His contribution to wildlife programming will not be equalled.
You’ve said Britain will call it Boaty MacBoatface….. you might want to edit that opening paragraph.
Whoops. .. I reread that. Silly me.
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