Boaty McBoatface tops public poll to name £200m polar research vessel

The NERC’s #NameOurShip campaign received ‘overwhelming interest’ after calling on the public to help name its new ship

The NERC will have the final say on the name of it's new ship (NERC)

The public has voted the name Boaty McBoatface as the number one choice for a new £200 million research vessel, beating the closest rival by nearly 90,000 votes.

The name, put forward by communications manager James Hand, received 124,109 votes, while second favourite Poppy-Mai received 34,371 and Henry Worsley came third with 15,231.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) who launched the #NameOurShip campaign, which closed on Saturday, thanked the public for their “overwhelming interest and support”.

NERC said it will now “review all of the suggested names” and that the “final decision would be announced in due course”.

Other names put forward include It’s Bloody Cold Here, David Attenborough, Usain Boat, Boatimus Prime and Pingu.

The Royal Research Vessel will be the largest and most advanced in the UK. The 128 metre long ship is due to be operational in 2019 and will sail the waters of the Arctic and Antarctic with its crew of 90 scientists and research staff.