Enlarge Image National Environment Research Council

Boaty McBoatface will take to the high seas after all -- in the form of a drone submarine.

An official name has been announced for the British polar research vessel that was the subject of a public vote back in March. The public voted to christen the £200 million ship such japesome names as Usain Boat, Ice Ice Baby, or Captain Haddock -- but with over 120,000 votes, the clear public favourite was Boaty McBoatface.

Honestly, it makes you proud to be British.

Despite the huge support for Boaty, the UK's Natural Environment Research Council announced today it will name the research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough, after the soft-spoken naturalist, broadcaster and national treasure. Can't argue with that.

Happily, the name Boaty McBoatface lives on -- applied to a subsea remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that will be carried by the RRS Sir David Attenborough.