If you want something done properly, don’t ask the Internet.
“Boaty McBoatface” could be the new official name for a scientific research ship of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) after they opened an online vote to the public to suggest its name.
Along with suggestions such as “Usain Boat,” “Boatamus Prime,” “It’s bloody cold here,” “Ice Ice Baby,” and “Notthetitanic,” Boaty McBoatface is currently the solid frontrunner. There are a few serious suggestions too, including “David Attenborough” and “Henry Worsley” – the Antarctic explorer who passed away in January.
The winner will be announced next month, after voting finishes on April 16, 2016. However, don’t get your hopes up just yet, as the NERC says: “An expert panel will review all suggestions before making the final decision.” That said, the NERC already seems to be jumping on the McBoatface bandwagon by tweeting #BoatyMcBoatface, along with their hashtag #NameOurShip.
The Name Our Ship website has crashed multiple times over the past few days due to the wealth of traffic, no doubt thanks to the loyal supporters of Boaty McBoatface.
The 125-meter (410-foot) boat is currently under construction at the cost of $290 million. When completed in 2019, the ship will be decked out with the latest technology and onboard laboratories to help our understanding of the effect of climate change on the Antarctic's climate and ecosystems, as well as the world's ocean circulation and sea levels.
Our current top 4 #NameOurShip suggestions. Have you voted yet? https://t.co/Vv5Or05r9l pic.twitter.com/Uf4u1XyHYf
— NERC (@NERCscience) March 18, 2016
