Britain vetoes 'Boaty McBoatface' for research vessel, will give name to submarine instead

Britain will give "Boaty McBoatface" name to submarine.
(Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Britain's Natural Environmental Research Council made a fateful mistake by allowing the internet to vote on a name for its new $287 million research vessel. On Friday, the Ministry officially vetoed the wishes of the 124,000 people who voted for the winning name, "Boaty McBoatface," and instead choose a more "suitable" name: "David Attenborough," a much duller option in honor of the famous naturalist.

But in an attempt to soften the blow, the Research Council announced they weren't scrapping the winning name entirely, The New York Times reports. "We're ensuring that the Boaty name lives on through the sub-sea vehicle that will support the research crew," Science Minister Jo Johnson said.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.