Britain's new polar ship, "Boaty McBoatface", heads for open seas

 

The RSS Sir David Attenborough sails past the Royal Liver building as it leaves Liverpool to begin sea trials in Liverpool, Britain, November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

NEW BRIGHTON, England (Reuters) - Britain's new polar ship, the Sir David Attenborough, headed for the open seas on Tuesday to start trials after a storm delay, before making its maiden voyage to Antarctica next year for climate change research.

 

The 200 million pound ($260 million), state-of-the-art, polar research vessel, with its red hull and a bright yellow crane on its stern, sailed past Liverpool's historic docks and out into the sea, headed for north Wales.

 

Officially the ship is named after the veteran BBC naturalist David Attenborough, but to many Britons it will always be known as "Boaty McBoatface", after that suggestion topped a public poll to name the vessel in 2016.

 

Its departure from Liverpool was delayed by around a week due to stormy weather, a British Antarctic Survey (BAS)spokeswoman said, with calm seas preferred to test and calibrate its specialist equipment for the first time.

 

It will remain at sea for just under a week before berthing in Holyhead, Wales, once the current Welsh coronavirus lockdown ends on Nov. 9, the spokeswoman added.

 

The BAS will operate the ship, carrying out ice trials in the Arctic in early 2021 before a journey to the Antarctic in November next year, where scientists say it will transform UK research in polar regions.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-03

 

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Mission for maiden voyage; locate Brexit!

Good idea .. Thai public could do the same coming up with names for the sub's .. 

So long as they aint got anymore than 3 letters .. 

21 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

Good idea .. Thai public could do the same coming up with names for the sub's .. 

So long as they aint got anymore than 3 letters .. 

Ah damn, that sinks my proposal:  I Hear Too I & II.

A fine vessel let’s hope she has a long safe productive career she’s named after a wonderful man who brought the joy of nature to many of us fare winds and following seas !

21 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Good idea .. Thai public could do the same coming up with names for the sub's .. 

So long as they aint got anymore than 3 letters .. 

How about the RRS Up2you

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The BAS will operate the ship, carrying out ice trials in the Arctic

 

Aren't they at the wrong end of the planet??

 

Quote

The RSS Sir David Attenborough sails past the Royal Liver building as it leaves Liverpool to begin sea trials in Liverpool, Britain, November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble

I'm pretty sure it's RRS (Royal Research Ship), not RSS (Singapore??)

44 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Aren't they at the wrong end of the planet??

 

How do you work that out?

1 hour ago, chickenslegs said:

I'm pretty sure it's RRS (Royal Research Ship), not RSS (Singapore??)

 

You are correct. Good old Reuters strike again.

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

 

Aren't they at the wrong end of the planet??

 

 

Closer for ICE class trials before going to the Antarctic next year. 

On 11/4/2020 at 11:52 PM, Crossy said:

 

Aren't they at the wrong end of the planet??

 

They don't want to go all the way to Antarctica and find a problem they need a ship yard to fix. Shipyards in short supply in Antarctica ( none ).