Boaty McBoatface polar research ship to be named after Sir David Attenborough

Vessel will be the RRS Sir David Attenborough, but subsea ROV will be named Boaty McBoatface

(PA (PA)

A new £200m polar research ship will not be named "Boaty McBoatface" despite the suggestion's victory in a public poll.

Instead the boat will be called the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, Science Minister Jo Johnson announced.

However, a subsea remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on the vessel will be called Boaty McBoatface, which received more than 120,000 votes in an internet vote held by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), far ahead of the other suggestions.

Mr Johnson said: "The public provided some truly inspirational and creative names, and while it was a difficult decision I’m delighted that our state-of-the-art polar research ship will be named after one of the nation’s most cherished broadcasters and natural scientists.

"This vessel will carry the Attenborough name for decades to come, as it fulfils its mission to explore the oceans and put Britain at the forefront of efforts to preserve our precious marine environment.

"The ship has captured the imaginations of millions, which is why we’re ensuring that the Boaty name lives on through the sub-sea vehicle that will support the research crew, and the polar science education programme that will bring their work to life."

Sir David, who is 90 on Sunday, said he was "truly honoured".

"I hope that everyone who suggested a name will feel just as inspired to follow the ship’s progress as it explores our polar regions," he added.

“I have been privileged to explore the world’s deepest oceans alongside amazing teams of researchers, and with this new polar research ship they will be able to go further and discover more than ever before.”

More than 11,000 people voted for Sir David Attenborough in the online poll, making it one of the most popular out of the 7,000 different suggestions.

But they were dwarfed by Boaty McBoatface, which received 124,000 votes and created so much interest that at one point the NERC website crashed.

James Hand, a communications manager who suggested the name as a joke, subsequently said he had contacted NERC to apologise "profusely".

Speaking previously about internet storm around the name, he said: “It’s actually nothing to do with me. It was my suggestion but the storm that has been created, it’s got legs of its own. The website has been updated and it’s got a new server apparently. It’s all been really good fun but it’s been so surreal.

“When you submit them, you have to submit a reason and I actually put ‘it’s a brilliant name’, which I stand by. I’ve tweeted the organisers and said I’m terribly sorry – a lot of people have replied to me and said that’s the most British thing ever.”

After Mr Johnson's decision was announced – the NERC poll was not binding – Mr Hand declined to comment, saying: "I don't think it's right for me, it's a story for NERC. I'm at work, I don't want to talk about it."