Sir David Attenborough has launched the UK’s newest polar ship.
The national treasure has launched the ship, which is named after him, into the River Mersey in Birkenhead The £200m Attenborough boat will replace two ships currently circulating the icecaps and will be crucially used for research and logistics. It is equipped with all the latest scientific gear, including a helipad, cranes and onboard lab.
Attenborough has said that it is “the greatest possible honor” to have such an important ship named after him. He believes that the work the ship will do will be extremely important in shaping our future.
“Our future will be affected by what people working on this ship will be discovering in years to come,” he said.
“When 100 years ago this country sent people down to the South Pole, we were the pioneers in exploring the Antarctic,” he continued.
“When we did so, I suspect the reason we did was the South Pole seemed as far away as it could possibly get to be on this planet.
“Now, 100 years later, we realize that remote place is, in fact, key to the whole understanding of the planet. What goes on down there affects the whole of the Earth.”
