Off the wire
• U.S. stocks decline after soft jobs report  • International tourism revenues rise by 3.6 pct in 2015: UN tourism agency  • Interview: Political uncertainty has little impact on Spanish economy: expert  • Brother of Paris attacks' alleged mastermind sentenced to 2 years in Morocco  • French president to visit Central African Republic next week  • Taiwan's participation in WHA based on One China principle  • Senior Chinese legislator visits Botswana to promote cooperation  • Roundup: SNP leader says to form minority gov't after Scottish parliamentary election  • Shanghai Disneyland to start operational tests  • SpaceX lands rocket on droneship again after satellite launch  
You are here: 　 Home

"Boaty" science ship named after world famous naturalist Attenborough

Xinhua, May 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

The 290 million U.S. dollar polar research ship being built by Britain is to be named after world renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, it was announced Friday.

A public competition by Britain's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) was inundated with support to call the polar explorer the fun name "Boaty McBoatface."

The unusual name polled more than 124,000 votes from around the world, but a decision has been taken to name the vessel after Attenborough who turns 90 in a few days time.

However, the most popular name will not sink without trace, officials have decided. They are to name the ship's high-tech remotely operated undersea submarine vehicle Boaty McBoatface.

The "Boaty" sub-sea vehicle will be dispatched from the RRS Sir David Attenborough to allow the ship's research crew to collect data and samples from the deepest waters of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Government Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said Friday: "This vessel will carry the Attenborough name for decades to come, as it fulfils its mission to explore the oceans and put Britain at the forefront of efforts to preserve our precious marine environment."

Reacting to the news, Attenborough said: "I have been privileged to explore the world's deepest oceans alongside amazing teams of researchers, and with this new polar research ship they will be able to go further and discover more than ever before."

Building on the interest in polar science generated by the naming process, Johnson also announced that the government will be investing up to 1 million pounds (1.44 million U.S. dollars) in a new polar explorer program to engage young people and inspire the scientists, engineers and explorers of the future.

The ship is being built at the Cammell Laird shipyard near Liverpool and is due to set sail in 2019. It will provide Britain with the most advanced floating research fleet in the world, conducting vital research into the world's oceans and how climate change is addressed.

It will be deployed in both Antarctica and the Arctic, and will be able to spend up to 60 days in sea-ice at any one time to let scientists gather extended observations and data.

Robotic submarines and marine gliders, including the Boaty McBoatface sub-sea, vehicle will collect data, images and samples relating to ocean conditions and marine biology and deliver it to scientists working in the ship's onboard laboratories. Endit