How you can apply to name the UK's new £200 million polar research ship

The new polar research ship will explore new depths of the ocean. Credit: NERC

Would you like the chance to name the UK’s new £200 million polar research ship?

The vessel, packed with the latest technology, will be used by scientists from the Cambridge-based British Antarctic Survey to explore new depths of the ocean that they've been unable to investigate before.

It will set sail on its maiden voyage in 2019… but before then it needs a name.

Shakleton. Endeavour. Falcon. These are just some of the ideas that have been been forward.

If you think you’ve got a better idea, all you need to do is give a short explanation about why your name should be chosen at the at http://nameourship.nerc.ac.uk

Anyone can a make a suggestion - and you can make as many suggestions as you’d like.

It’s part of a new campaign launched Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which manages polar science in Britain. They’ll be making the final decision.

The ship will replace two current vessels, including the James Clark Ross. Credit: NERC

Here are few tips for what the NERC is looking for:

  • The NERC will apply to register the ship as a Royal Research Ship (RRS) so the name name must be in the format RRS NAME

  • The name is expected to be inspirational and about environmental and polar science, to reflect the pioneering work that the ship will take part in

  • It can’t be a name that has already been used for of the UK’s science ships - the current fleet is the RRS James Clark Ross and RRS Ernest Shackleton

The closing date for all entries is 16 April 2016.

The ship will be packed with the latest technology. Credit: NERC

Click below to watch ITV Anglia's interview with Mike Dinn, Operations Manager at the British Antarctic Survey.