The vessel, operated by the British Antarctic Survey, visited the Island as part of sea trials before being deployed to the Antarctic in November.
In 2016 the vessel made international headlines before it had even been built when 124,000 people voted in an online poll for it to be called Boaty McBoatface. The name had been suggested as a joke by former BBC Radio Jersey presenter James Hand.
It was later decided to name the ship after Sir David, the English broadcaster and natural historian. One of the vessel’s remote-controlled submarines has, however, taken the Boaty name.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough’s captain, Will Whatley, is from Southampton but has visited Jersey on numerous occasions. He joined the British Antarctic Survey at the age of 19 and worked his way through the ranks, eventually being promoted to captain in 2015.
‘We’ve just started our trials now and I thought it would be great to come to Jersey. I’ve got lots of friends on the Island and it was great to come back,’ said Captain Whatley.
He added that it was ‘very rare’ for the survey ship to be here at this time of year – when it would normally be in the Antarctic.
‘We’re testing things like the dynamic positioning systems as well as testing our boats and things like that. A lot of it is just about operating the ship, because just by moving from one place to another we learn a lot about how the ship operates – which we need to learn before going to the Antarctic.
‘We have two main roles, one is science at sea and the other is logistic support for the British bases in the Antarctic. We supply them with everything that they need such as food and fuel, science equipment and all the people coming backwards and forwards.’
When asked if the boat’s possible comic name had crossed his mind while heading to Jersey, he said: ‘It did – I’m very glad that the ship is called Sir David Attenborough because I think he is a great ambassador for what we do, but the whole Boaty McBoatface thing has been fantastic for us as an organisation because it has raised the awareness of what we do and the ship itself.
‘So I think it’s great that it happened but I’m pleased that the final name was Sir David Attenborough – and I think he is too.’
The ship was yesterday seen off Bouley Bay and although it is now heading towards Holyhead to continue its sea trials, Captain Whatley said it ‘may even come back at some stage’.
