Despite a massive public vote and an overwhelming victory, the United Kingdom will not be naming a future research vessel "Boaty McBoatface." Instead, the ship will be named the "RRS Sir David Attenborough," after the broadcaster and naturalist.
“New polar research ship to be named RRS Sir David Attenborough in tribute to a great broadcaster & natural scientist,” Jo Johnson, the U.K.’s Minister of State for Universities and Science, said in a tweet.
Johnson noted in a statement, that the public offered “truly inspirational and creative names,” though Attenborough was ultimately chosen because it “captures the ship’s scientific mission and celebrates the broadcaster’s contribution to natural science.”
Attenborough, who will turn 90 on Sunday, said he was ‘truly honored’ by the decision, BBC reported.
All is not lost, however. A remote-operated vehicle aboard the ship will be known as "Boaty McBoatface."
Hello #BoatyMcBoatface! The name lives on as the remotely operated vehicle aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough pic.twitter.com/o05NByBFhd
— Jo Johnson (@JoJohnsonMP) May 6, 2016
While it was a relative long shot that the boat would actually bear the name "Boaty McBoatface," it's still a bummer that it's officially not going to happen. What's the point of having a public vote if the name wouldn't be actually binding? "Boaty McBoatface" isn't an offensive name, and at the end of the day, a name is just a name.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member