"Did you hear the one about Boaty McBoatface?"
There's something about Polar Research Ships that have always held an appeal - they do potentially remarkably dangerous work,
the design originated in Liverpool - and there's a new vessel being built at a yard close to my heart (Cammell Laird's on the Mersey) - and the very thought of it being called Boaty McBoatface (by populist vote) is causing mirth and consternation in varying quantities!
"Who are you - What is your Name, and What is your business"
"This is the Captain of Boaty McBoatface speaking...."
Please - if you haven't already - do feel free to add your suggestions - the website was predictably crashy at first - overwhelmed in the early days by 40,000+voters wanting the BMcB name to grace her bows. There are links too with famous explorers, Liverpool, and lots of Polar crystals, stars, and other chilly names.
One of the best Icebreakers - older than QE, and is still plying her way up and down from the Ice in Antarctica - she was the ship that was to some extent, my "responsibility" in 2011-13!
https://nameourship.nerc.ac.uk/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-35860760Voting closes on April 16th - with the result to be made known in the summer, after a panel at NERC make their own decision.
From Ships Monthly
"Tonne-for-tonne, the ship – together with NERC’s existing two blue water research ships – will provide the UK with the most advanced floating research fleet in the world and will help put the UK at the forefront of ocean research for years to come"
These ships carry valuable equipment and information as well as teams of scientists to and from their working lives in the polar regions.
