UK Public Votes to Name $300 Million Ship ‘Boaty McBoatface’

Ah, online democracy. 

The UK’s National Environment Research Council is scheduled to launch a nearly $300 million polar research vessel in 2019, and it asked the public to come up with possible names for the ship, and vote on it. 

The most popular name thus far? “Boaty McBoatface.” 

It's an absolutely brilliant name.

— James Hand, author of the name

(https://nameourship.nerc.ac.uk)

Voting is not over yet, and it’s uncertain whether the Research Council will even make good on their promise to go with the public’s choice, but if they do, the ship is looking likely to end up with “Boaty McBoatface.”

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As of Sunday morning, “Boaty McBoatface” has a significant lead in the votes, with 21,192—far ahead of the second most popular nomination, “Henry Worsley,” at 2,720. Henry Worsley was a British explorer who died in January trying to make the first solo crossing of Antarctica. 

At number 3 is “Pillar of Autumn,” a ship from the popular game Halo.