The Spokane leaves the dock at the Edmonds Ferry Terminal on Tuesday afternoon. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

The Spokane leaves the dock at the Edmonds Ferry Terminal on Tuesday afternoon. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Naming the next Mukilteo ferry: It won’t be Boaty McBoatface

The process starts now to name the state’s first electric hybrid ferry, three years before it sails.

MUKILTEO — The state ferry system’s bouncing new workhorse needs a name.

It won’t be Boaty McBoatface or S.S. ShouldveBeenABridge.

The next addition to the 21-member fleet is a hybrid-electric Olympic class 144-car vessel that will serve the busy Mukilteo-Clinton route. It isn’t slated to sail for about three years. At this point, it’s barely a twinkle in the Legislature’s eyes.

The name game starts early on this big bad baby.

This week will kick off the ferry naming process. A virtual meeting by the Washington State Transportation Commission on Wednesday will discuss how the public can get involved.

There is no prize other than the satisfaction of naming a vessel.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Ian Sterling, Washington State Ferries spokesperson, said the hybrid ferry is the first of possibly five new builds for the aging fleet.

The gestation of a boat takes several years.

“Once the shipyard really starts to build we want time to have the name picked out,” Sterling said.

The name is on both sides of the vessel, on placards at each end, and also life rings and gear.

The new boat will look like its green-and-white cousins, with one exception.

“It won’t have a bunch of diesel smoke coming out of the stack when it’s running on all electric,” Sterling said.

The state operates the largest ferry fleet in the United States. The newest ferry to join the ferry family was the Suquamish in 2018, and mainly serves the Mukilteo-Clinton route.

That ferry’s name means “people of the clear salt water” in the Suquamish Tribe’s traditional language. It cost $122 million to construct, in addition to equipment provided by state ferries, and was made by ship builder Vigor Industrial in Seattle.

Some people know the ferries by name: Puyallup, Tacoma, Wenatchee, Spokane, Walla Walla, Kaleetan, Yakima, Chimacum, Samish, Suquamish, Tokitae, Cathlamet, Chelan, Issaquah, Kitsap, Kittitas, Sealth, Tillikum, Chetzemoka, Kennewick, Salish.

The Spokane leaves the dock at the Edmonds Ferry Terminal on Tuesday afternoon. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

The Spokane leaves the dock at the Edmonds Ferry Terminal on Tuesday afternoon. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

All now have Native American place or tribal names, but there have been exceptions in the past.

The Rhododendron, named for the state flower of Washington, and known affectionately as “The Rhody,” was put into service in Washington in the early 195os and did a long stint on the Mukilteo-Clinton route. The Rhody retired 10 years ago.

The Evergreen State is also retired. Its sister boat, Tillikum, is 62, and still plugging away on the San Juan Islands inter-island route.

Names must be non‐offensive and meet ethical standards. Names honoring or commemorating individuals will be considered. But consider this before you want to honor your favorite rich aunt. The individual must be deceased for at least 20 years, must have enduring fame and have played a significant historical role in the region or state.

Suggestions must include background and make a case for the name and establish and identify widespread support.

Proposals undergo extensive scrutiny getting public feedback.

The chosen name gets a “Resolution” charter with a bunch of “Whereas-es” to make it official.

The state won’t make the mistakes of the Brits in Canada and across the pond.

BC Ferries launched a contest in 2015 asking the public to submit names for its three new vessels in a fleet with names such as Spirit and Queen.

Social media suggestions included Queen of Infinite Fare Increases, S.S. ShouldveBeenABridge and Spirit of Good Luck Getting Home to Your Family On a Long Weekend.

Even the three prizes of $500 in ferry travel were scoffed at.

In the end, the chosen names were Salish Orca, Salish Eagle and Salish Raven.

A United Kingdom government agency let the internet suggest a name for a $287 million polar research ship in 2016. People disregarded the more dignified names suggested by the Natural Environment Research Council.

The runaway favorite: Boaty McBoatface.

More like government eggface.

The ship was named the RRS Sir David Attenborough.

Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

The Edmonds City Council gathers to discuss annexing into South County Fire on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community group presents vision for Edmonds’ fiscal future

Members from Keep Edmonds Vibrant suggested the council focus on revenue generation and a levy lid lift to address its budget crisis.

The age of bridge 503 that spans Swamp Creek can be seen in its timber supports and metal pipes on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. The bridge is set to be replaced by the county in 2025. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Snohomish County report: 10 bridges set for repairs, replacement

An annual report the county released May 22 details the condition of local bridges and future maintenance they may require.

People listen as the Marysville School Board votes to close an elementary and a middle school in the 2025-26 school year while reconfiguring the district’s elementary schools to a K-6 model on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Marysville schools audit shows some improvement

Even though the district still faces serious financial problems, the findings are a positive change over last year, auditors said.

Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sewer district notifies Edmonds schools of intent to sue

The letter of intent alleges the school district has failed to address long-standing “water pollution issues” at Madrona K-8 School.

Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in unincorporated Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former engineer: Snohomish County rushed plans for Eastview development

David Irwin cited red flags from the developers. After he resigned, the county approved the development that’s now stalled with an appeal

Edie Carroll trims plants at Baker's Acres Nursery during Sorticulture on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sorticulture, Everett’s garden festival, is in full swing

The festival will go through Sunday evening and has over 120 local and regional vendors.

Students attending Camp Killoqua next week pose with Olivia Park Elementary staff on Friday, June 6 near Everett. Top, from left: Stacy Goody, Cecilia Stewart and Lynne Peters. Bottom, from left: Shaker Alfaly, Jenna Alfaly and Diana Peralta. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
A school needed chaperones for an outdoor camp. Everett cops stepped up.

An Olivia Park Elementary trip to Camp Killoqua would have been canceled if not for four police officers who will help chaperone.

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Everett’s minimum wage goes up on July 1. Here’s what to know.

Voters approved the increase as part of a ballot measure in the November election.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
State declares drought emergency for parts of Snohomish County

Everett and the southwest part of the county are still under a drought advisory, but city Public Works say water outlooks are good.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.