Sir David Attenborough (the ship) visits city

A BESPOKE design and built state-of-the-art polar science vessel which very nearly became stuck with the name Boaty McBoatface has been hosted by Devonport's Naval Base as it prepares to head to the Antarctic to carry out crucial research.

- By CARL EVE

One of the multi-purpose labs available for scientists on board

(Carl Eve/PlymouthLive)

In its very first visit to Plymouth, the RRS [Royal Research Ship] Sir David Attenborough threw open its doors and hatches to visits from media, students, dignitaries and others to catch a glimpse of the incredible work which dozens of scientists will be carrying out as winter approaches.

The startlingly bright red ship commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council, built by Cammell Laird and operated by the British Antarctic Survey entered Plymouth Sound on October 14, but is set to head off on October 17 to begin its five-week voyage to Antarctica, stopping off at Montevideo and Uruguay before heading further south.

Over the next seven months, researchers and operational teams will deliver more than 60 science projects across five British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research stations, on board the RRS Sir David Attenborough and at several deep-field and marine locations.

This year's research programme showcases a range of climate, ocean, glaciological and ecological research, including major international collaboration, advanced autonomous technology trials and a collection of long-term environmental data and observations.

Despite an initial public poll in 2016 which suggested the ship should be named Boaty McBoatface, this was thankfully overruled by the then science minister and instead she was named after the world renowned naturalist and presenter, Sir David Attenborough although the public's favoured name did not completely disappear, as it is now the name of the vessel's remotely controlled submersible, which is currently in Southampton.