Britain’s new polar ship, the Sir David Attenborough, set to begin sea trials… but people still can’t forget Boaty McBoatface

© Provided by Evening Standard

Britain’s new polar ship the RSS Sir David Attenborough beginning sea trials has inspired many to remember the campaign to call it ‘Boaty McBoatface’.

After four years of construction the £200m vessel is leaving its shipyard to begin the trials before commencing service in a year’s time.

Operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the new vessel is expected to transform UK research in the polar regions, including extensive work designed to boost understanding of climate change.

The milestone in the vessel’s life today has been met with many remembering the campaign to name it Boaty McBoatface – with the name trending on Twitter.

More than 124,000 people voted to give the ship the comedy name in 2016 after a social media joke went viral.

But despite it coming top of the poll on what to call the vessel, the government instead announced it would be named after the renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David.

© Provided by Evening Standard Operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the new vessel is expected to transform UK research in the polar regions, including extensive work designed to boost understanding of climate change.

Among those to post online today was Monica Durden, who wrote: “You’ll always be known as Boaty McBoatface to me – we voted you that way, so that’s how you’ll stay in my heart.Sail safely Boaty. Sail safely.”

Another user wrote: “I think it would only be fair now for Sir David Attenborough to change his name to Boaty Mcboatface.”

And another said: “The name of this boat was put to a public vote & we chose Boaty McBoatface. The decision makers ignored the vote and changed it to Sir David Attenborough to stop us looking stupid to the rest of the world… and yet with something less important like Brexit the vote still stands!”

But the fun wasn’t had by all, with one account posting “Boaty McBoatface is child level humour.”

They wrote: “All the whiny, remoaning, child like, man-child/woman-child untollerant lefties are still clutching onto Boaty McBoatface pretending it is in anyway funny or joyful.”

Sirens, tugboats and water cannon were expected to mark the Attenborough’s departure from builder Cammell Laird’s wet dock at Birkenhead this afternoon before two weeks of technical trials off the coast of north Wales.

After the tests, the BAS crew will undertake 50 days of intensive training at Holyhead Port before more trials around the Irish Sea.

Early next year the ship will conduct ice trials in the Arctic, and in November 2021 make its maiden voyage to Antarctica.