The UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has closed its online poll to name the UK’s next world-class polar research ship that sprung one of the quirkiest names a vessel might be given, the Boaty McBoatface.
The proposal has been given a major support from the social media and the name remains on top of the most loved entries so far with 124,109 votes.
The Name Our Ship online poll closed at midnight, on Saturday, 16 April with around 7,000 suggestions.
Other top five proposals include Poppy-Mai, Henry Worsley, David Attenborough, and Its Bloody Cold Here, all with far less number of supporters.
NERC said it would now review all of the suggested names and the final decision for the name will be announced in due course, but chances for the ship being named RRS Boaty McBoatface are far fetched as the council wanted the name to be “ inspirational and exemplify the work it will do.”
“The ship could be named after a local historical figure, movement, or landmark – or a famous polar explorer or scientist,” the council said announcing the poll earlier this year.
Set to set sail in 2019, and backed by £200m of government funding, the polar research ship will be built at the Cammell Laird shipyard on Merseyside.
According to NERC, the ship 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.