#MarineScience - This afternoon Sir David Attenborough launched the 10,000-tonne hull of the UK's newest polar ship - named after him - into the River Mersey.

The BBC reports the broadcaster pushed the button, sending the hull sliding out from the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, into the water where building will continue.

"Our future will be effected by what people working on this ship will be discovering in years to come," he said.

It is "the greatest possible honour" to be its namesake, Sir David added.

The hull of the £200m research vessel entered the river stern-first, creating a big wave as it hit the water.

Ahead of the launch, the riverbed was dredged in front of the slipway to make sure the steel mass did not bottom out.

To read more on the launch of the newbuild, click here.