The man behind the hilarious thought to call the UK’s new $300 million Antarctic analysis RRS Boaty McBoatface might have simply landed himself a job with one of many world’s largest cruise corporations.

Cruise big Royal Caribbean mentioned Friday that they’ve situated the wordsmith and invited him to assist develop the longer term title for one of many firm’s upcoming ships. 

The man is British communications supervisor James Hand, who consider it or not had no prior expertise naming ships earlier than submitting RRS Boaty McBoatface to a web-based contest to call the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council’s state-of-the-art analysis vessel to be delivered in 2019. But expertise didn’t matter, RRS Boaty McBoatface shot straight to the highest of the polls, simply beating out the hundreds of different entries with greater than 100,000 up votes thus far. 

“Since the first time humans took to the seas, choosing a ship’s name has been the most integral part of launching a new vessel. From Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria, to Captain Cook’s Endeavor, to the legendary Norse longship Skíðblaðnir, a ship’s name establishes its lofty purpose,” Royal Caribbean mentioned in assertion asserting their invite. 

“The people of the United Kingdom know the name of a great ship when they see it,” mentioned Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Like the rest of the world, we fell in love with the name Boaty McBoatface when we heard it, and we knew immediately that Royal Caribbean could use James Hand’s talent to name our next ship.”

With 5 ships debuting within the subsequent three years for Royal Caribbean, Hand might have simply discovered himself a brand new profession.  

“If James accepts our offer, who knows, perhaps he could name all our future ships,” added Bayley. “James Hand, Chief Naming Officer, Royal Caribbean International. It has a nice ring to it.”

Bizarrely, this really isn’t an April Fool. https://t.co/XSTgGkBxnV

— James Hand (@JamesHand) April 1, 2016

As step one within the naming course of, Royal Caribbean is inviting James Hand to sail on its latest and largest ship, Harmony of the Seas, when it launches in Southampton, UK this May, the place Hand will meet with the cruise line’s actual ship naming consultants to debate potential names.

The contest to call the analysis vessel closes April 16. So fingers crossed for #boatymcboatface.