‘Boaty McBoatface’ Wins Online Contest to Name the UK’s New Research Vessel by a Landslide

The internet has overwhelmingly voted to name the UK’s new $300 million polar research vessel RRS Boaty McBoatface.

The UK National Environment Research Council (NERC) “Name Our Ship” contest closed Saturday with more than 7,000 suggestions for the name of their newest and most advanced research ship to be built at the world-famous Cammell Laird shipyard for delivery in 2019.

Of those 7,000 submissions, RRS Boaty McBoatface won the contest by a landslide, racking up more than 124,000 up votes – more than three times the amount of the second place winner.

Boaty McBoatface was submitted by British communications manager James Hand, who believe it or not had no prior experience naming ships before submitting the name during the month-long online contest.

But whether or not the ship will actually be christened as Boaty McBoatface is yet to be determined. NERC says it will now review all of the suggested names and the final decision for the name will be announced in due course.

Other names submitted as part of the contest included RRS Poppy-Mai, which came in second place, RRS Henry Worsley in third, RRS David Attenborough in fourth, and RRS Its Bloody Cold Here in fifth. 

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