'Boaty McBoatface' Name Will Live On

But in a slightly different way
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted May 6, 2016 6:59 AM CDT
'Boaty McBoatface' Name Will Live On
The new RSS Sir David Attenborough.   (NERC)

"Boaty McBoatface" was the public's clear winner in a naming poll for a UK research ship, but Jo Johnson, Britain's science minister, more or less said a couple of weeks ago that the quirky moniker wasn't going to happen. He was partly right, per the Guardian: "New polar research ship to be named RRS Sir David Attenborough in tribute to a great broadcaster & natural scientist," Johnson tweeted early Friday. But that tweet was followed by another a few minutes later with some happier news for fans of the people's choice.

"Hello #BoatyMcBoatface! The name lives on as the remotely operated vehicle aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough," the tweet read, with the Guardian explaining that vehicle is a submarine that will be dispatched from the Attenborough so the research team can collect samples and data from the Arctic and Antarctic. "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 said in a statement, adding that because of the public's interest in the vessel name, it was important to ensure "that the Boaty name lives on through the sub-sea vehicle." (More Boaty McBoatface stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X