‘Boaty McBoatface’ leads race to name UK research ship

LONDON, United Kingdom – Britain’s new polar research ship could end up being called Boaty McBoatface, with the joke name leading the public vote by several nautical miles on Monday, March 21.

Former BBC radio presenter James Hand, who came up with the name, said 90% of the thousands of entries were daft – so he thought he would throw in one of his own.

He suggested the name to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) on Thursday, March 17, since when the Royal Research Ship Boaty McBoatface name has sailed way ahead of the competition.

Before the voting site crashed under the weight of people trying to have their say, Hand’s suggestion was leading with 28,590 votes, far ahead of its closest competitor, which had just over 3 thousand votes.

Some of the more unusual suggestions include the RRS Onion Knight, RRS Pingu, RRS Usain Boat, RRS I Like Big Boats And I Cannot Lie and RRS Kanye West.

The £200 million ($290 million, 255 million euro) state-of-the-art polar research ship, which will be 128 meters long and weigh 15,000 tonnes, is set to sail in 2019.

“Operating in one of the world’s most challenging global environments – our polar regions – we’re looking for an inspirational name that exemplifies the work it will do,” the NERC said when it launched the naming competition.

The final decision on the new name will be taken by the NERC.

Alison Robinson, NERC’s director of corporate affairs, claimed the council was “delighted” by the public’s enthusiasm and “pleased that people are embracing the idea in a spirit of fun”.

“We are very much enjoying hearing everyone’s ideas,” she insisted.

Alan West, a former head of Britain’s navy, said: “It’s a typical thing of the Brits going mad.

“This is a key bit of research where we are probably leading the world, and we should all be very proud of it,” he told BBC radio.

“I’m rather proud that we have silly names going around – but I hope we don’t select one.”

Hand said he had “apologized profusely” and had actually voted for RRS David Attenborough, after the veteran television naturalist. – Rappler.com