Second visit in a week
Scientific research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough, aka Boaty McBoatface, is off the Devon coast for the second time in a week.
The Sir David was in Torbay midweek before heading to Bideford Bay the long way round - circumnavigating Great Britain.
The ship is due to start its polar exploration work later this year, but it's practicing off North Devon (it has been pretty cold this week).
It has been undergoing sea trials and testing its scientific equipment for the past four months.
Its chief engineer Luke Parnell says: "We're trying out all the systems that we need to be operate to do effectively work to do research to be able to support the scientists when they come on board. So we're doing all the mechanical systems, the sea keeping, all the various systems that we need operating."
The public was invited to choose a name for the vessel before it was handed over from shipbuilders Camel Laird in 2010. However, its owners the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) ignored more than 120,000 people who got behind a campaign for it to be called Boaty McBoatface. ‘Sir David Attenborough’ achieved fewer than three per cent of votes, but it a little more dignified.
You can keep track of the ship's position at: https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/RRS-Sir-David-Attenborough-icebreaker-1833
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