# Britain lets public name a new Polar Research Vessel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577 "2016-03-19T21:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/1 "2016-03-19T21:31:27Z")
The UK Natural Environment Research Council has in preparation a £200 million state-of-the-art polar research vessel. It’s a serious contribution to the science of the area, a topic of increasing importance. Because it’s funded via taxation, _someone_ thought it a good idea to let the Great British Public come up with a suitable name for the vessel. [http://www.nerc.ac.uk/press/releases/2016/10-ship-naming/](http://www.nerc.ac.uk/press/releases/2016/10-ship-naming/) At the time of posting, there is a very clear runaway winner. The people have spoken. So, welcome to the fleet, Royal Research Ship Boaty McBoatface. [https://nameourship.nerc.ac.uk/entries.html](https://nameourship.nerc.ac.uk/entries.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/2 "2016-03-19T21:57:40Z")
I approve. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/3 "2016-03-19T22:08:35Z")
The site doesn’t work properly for me. I can’t get the list of entries to load. I think she should be called the Ice Queen. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/4 "2016-03-19T22:13:17Z")
Aw, we broke it… ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/5 "2016-03-19T22:30:31Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The site doesn’t work properly for me. I can’t get the list of entries to load. It’s been struggling all day. Chrome loads it more consistently than FF, but I think they weren’t expecting anything like the traffic they’ve ended up with. There’s some gems among the suggested names: RRS Usain Boat, RRS Do You Want Ice With That?, RRS I Like Big Boats & I Cannot Lie etc ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/6 "2016-03-19T23:02:06Z")
A sampling of names submitted today: Its Bloody Cold Here Coldtrouser Deepwater Horizon Thanks For All The Fish Whats Up Hotdog What Iceberg? Icey Lady Do You Want Ice With That? I’m the Captain Now I’m So Cold Don’t Panic and Stay Cool Polor the Explorer Chilly Business Slippery When Wet Red Rum Capt’n Birseye Get Off My Cod 1 Tom Collins On the Rocks Notthetitanic Big Metal Floaty Thingy-Thing Immacrackdatice Science!!! Bust A Polar Cap (In Yo Ass) ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/7 "2016-03-20T01:48:24Z")
Those sound like great ship names … for Culture ships. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/8 "2016-03-20T02:36:05Z")
I saw some good suggestions, really, but couldn’t figure out how to see what name, if any, is in the lead. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/9 "2016-03-20T16:19:13Z")
RMS Wherestheicegone ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/10 "2016-03-20T18:34:16Z")
RRS Behind Blue Ice ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/11 "2016-03-21T04:11:45Z")
So the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) in England built this fancy new ship for a lot of money, and naturally decided to put the name of the ship to an internet vote. What did the Internet come up with? [Boaty McBoatface](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/boaty-mcboatface-could-be-the-name-of-200m-research-vessel-after-public-vote-a6942551.html), of course. They did give themselves an out: > [@](#): > > Anchored in the terms and conditions, the website states ‘the final name will be selected by NERC.’ > > It is almost as if someone thought ahead of what could happen when you have an online public vote. I hope they stick with that name though. It has a nice ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/12 "2016-03-21T04:44:47Z")
I’m amazed they could agree on anything. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/13 "2016-03-21T04:45:05Z")
That’s just like the story when Stephen Colbert set up all his viewers to petition NASA to name a new wing of the ISS after him. NASA likewise reserved the right to have the final say. They ended up naming the new module [Tranquility](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranquility_%28ISS_module%29#Naming_contest), but the high-tech zero-G exercise treadmill in the module was named the [Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill](https://ueidaq.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/colbert-treadmill-uses-ueipac-controller/), or C.O.L.B.E.R.T. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/14 "2016-03-21T04:51:37Z")
Look, you have to have somebody vetting nominations. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/15 "2016-03-21T12:36:17Z")
I’ve merged **Rigamarole** ’s IMHO thread with the existing MPSIMS thread. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/16 "2016-03-21T12:40:43Z")
Polar Research Vessel, you say? How about keep it simple and call it PRV? What could go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/17 "2016-03-21T13:02:32Z")
I assume the name has been chosen to honor the exploits of the original _Boaty McBoatface_ under Lord Nelson at Trafalgar. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/18 "2016-03-21T13:03:57Z")
It’s amazing what a few scripts can do to a website that wasn’t designed to prevent bots from voting. Britain has roughly 60 million people. 280 million of whom voted for _Boaty McBoatface_. As of now the main page linked in the OP says the voting website is off the air for “technical difficulties”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/19 "2016-03-21T13:26:20Z")
_Erebus_ or _Terror._ ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/20 "2016-03-21T13:29:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s amazing what a few scripts can do to a website that wasn’t designed to prevent bots from voting. Britain has roughly 60 million people. 280 million of whom voted for _Boaty McBoatface_. > > As of now the main page linked in the OP says the voting website is off the air for “technical difficulties”. Was it supposed to be limited to British residents? 'Cuz if anyone on the Internet could vote, I wouldn’t necessarily assume bots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577.md?page=2)