Boaty McBoatface leads public vote to name British research ship

THE brains behind the hilarious ‘Boaty McBoatface’ suggestion for Britain’s new $380 million research ship has apologised.

THE National Environment Research Council might think twice before deciding to give the public the power to name a new $380 million vessel in the near future.

Britain’s Royal Research Ship, the vessel that will give the UK the most advanced floating research fleet in the world, may indeed be called “RRS Boaty McBoatface”, with the tongue-in-cheek name steaming ahead of its rivals in the polls.

Other suggestions included Shackleton, Endeavour, Henry Worsley, David Attenborough and Falcon, while some of the funnier submissions were It’s Bloody Cold Here, Usain Bolt, Clifford the Big Red Boat, Ice Ice Baby and Notthetitanic.

Communications manager James Hand, who suggested Boaty McBoatface, has since tweeted an apology to NERC, but said he stands by the ”brilliant name”.

I'm terribly sorry about all of this, @NERCscience.

— James Hand (@JamesHand) March 20, 2016

My apology for #BoatyMcBoatface was in the most British sense. I stand by it being a brilliant name.

— James Hand (@JamesHand) March 21, 2016

When inviting the public to vote on a name the council said, “We’re looking for an inspirational name that exemplifies the work it will do”.

They suggested it be named after a historical figure, movement, landmark or famous polar explorer.

Behind RRS Boaty McBoatface, RRS Henry Worsley, RRS David Attenborough and RRS Pillar of Autumn are also proving popular.

Our current top 4 #NameOurShip suggestions. Have you voted yet? https://t.co/Vv5Or05r9l pic.twitter.com/Uf4u1XyHYf

— NERC (@NERCscience) March 18, 2016

The competition to name the 128 metre-long vessel was launched a month ago, with the deadline for voting on April 16.

Due to overwhelming public interest, presumably in Boaty McBoatface, the website has periodically crashed after experiencing unusually high volumes of traffic.

Many are showing their support for the new name while others are slamming it, saying it will make Britain look ridiculous.

@beccilee48 @lazyawol @NERCscience aaaanyway - that name is automatically disqualified, as we're talking about a ship here, not a boat.

— paddy (@padster) March 20, 2016

I fear that #BoatyMcBoatface is the UK's own Donald Trump moment. People shouldn't be allowed to vote for things - we're idiots

— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) March 20, 2016

Others said the name should be disqualified because it’s a ship not a boat.

While plenty are on board with the “Boaty McBoatface” name, it doesn’t mean the ship will be necessarily called that and National Environment Research Council will be the ultimate decider.

Words cannot describe how much I love the notion of naming the new royal research vessel #BoatyMcBoatface

— Dr Vicky Forster (@vickyyyf) March 20, 2016

If #BoatyMcBoatface doesn't happen I will feel completely let down by this country.

— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) March 19, 2016

The National Environment Research Council said the ship will be completed in 2019 and will be deployed in both Antarctica and the Arctic.

It will spend up to 60 days in sea-ice at any given time, letting scientists gather extended observations and data.

Boaty McBoatface became so popular over the weekend, it even got its own Twitter account and a trending hashtag.