Construction work has started on a new £200 million polar research vessel in Merseyside.

The new state-of-the-art ship is named after world-renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and is due to set sail in 2019.

The vessel is bing built by Cammell Laird at its shipyard in Birkenhead. The 'keel laying' process was started by Sir David on Monday, 17 October. The process involved initiating the lifting by crane of the first hull unit, weighing approximately 100 tonnes, to the construction berth. This unit includes part of the ship's keel and bottom shell plating and is the first of 97 units which will be erected to form the entire hull of the research ship.

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The remotely controlled autonomous underwater vehicle 'Boaty McBoatface' was also unveiled at the Birkenhead shipyard, named in recognition of the popular suggestion in a voting contest earlier this year.

Overall, the construction project will support 460 jobs and apprenticeships in Merseyside.

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said: "The RRS Sir David Attenborough, with Boaty McBoatface operated from her as a robotic underwater vehicle, will be one of the most advanced research ships in the world. It will help inspire the next generation of scientists in the UK and build on our status as one of the world's leading nations in polar science, engineering and technology."

(LM/MH)