RSS David Attenborough - the ship that was almost named Boaty McBoatface - to stop at Portsmouth Naval Base

A POLAR research ship will be making a quick stop at Portsmouth Naval Base tomorrow.
By Tom Morton
Published 16th Nov 2021, 15:22 BST
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RRS Sir David Attenborough is due to arrive at about 8am, and leave at some stage during the afternoon.

The ship – originally planned to be named by a Twitter poll, which saw Boaty McBoatface the overwhelming leader – is operated by the British Antartic Survey and the Natural Environment Research Council, and is not a naval ship.

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The RRS Sir David Attenborough, sails out of the River Mersey Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)The RRS Sir David Attenborough, sails out of the River Mersey Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
The RRS Sir David Attenborough, sails out of the River Mersey Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
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A spokesman for the base said that the stop was just a logistical one.

The navy’s current ice patrol ship, HMS Protector, is based at Devonport. HMS Endurance – known as Red Plum – was her predecessor, and was a Portsmouth ship.

Related topics:David AttenboroughTwitter