Now it’s Floaty McFloatface! Ship that launched a thousand quips sets sail
AN ‘extraordinarily emotional’ Sir David Attenborough yesterday launched the polar research ship the public voted to call Boaty McBoatface but which was officially named after the naturalist.
The 92-year-old broadcaster said the £200million vessel could be key to saving the planet.
Asked how he felt when he saw the ship enter the Mersey from the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Sir David said: ‘It was an extraordinarily emotional moment. I’m surprised myself really. I’ve never seen a ship of that size get down a slipway and there was something very noble about it and very emotional. Irresistible. ‘And to think that it’s going to go to the other end of the globe and do such valuable work and carry so many people from this country who will be working to find out all they can about the working of our planet is a marvellous thought. ‘I am more honoured than I can say that that wonderful hull has got my name on it.’
It is the largest civilian ship built in the UK for 30 years and the most technically advanced survey vessel. It will carry 60 scientists on trips to Antarctica. Sir David said: ‘This ship is going to be key to the future salvage of our plant or at least its preservation.’
More than 124,000 people voted to name it Boaty McBoatface in a public poll, but that was vetoed and it was instead named after the broadcaster. However, Boaty lives on, in the form of a miniature, unmanned, yellow submarine on board.