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A San Francisco Bay Ferry boat passes by cormorants on a breakwater as clouds and fog shroud the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay. The ferry is adding five new vessels in the next three years, but first they need names.<\/p>\n
Carlos Avila Gonzalez<\/p>\n
Since I started commuting by ferry<\/a> a decade ago, I\u2019ve loved the fact that each boat has a name.<\/p>\n It feels less like you\u2019re stepping onto an anonymous vehicle and more like you\u2019re meeting an old friend, crossing the San Francisco Bay on the Delphinus, Carina, Scorpio or (definitely my favorite) Karl the boat<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n So when the San Francisco Bay Ferry asked the Chronicle\u2019s Total SF project<\/a> for help naming the next five vessels arriving between 2027 and 2029, we were all aboard. Together with you, we will channel the Bay Area\u2019s creativity, joy and wear-it-on-our-sleeve eccentricism<\/a> to have the best-named fleet in the nation.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople have such a great sense of community and culture and history here in the Bay Area,\u201d said ferry spokesman Thomas Hall. \u201cI\u2019m very excited for this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n There are rules and prizes. And I have some suggestions. But first, let\u2019s learn what we\u2019re naming.<\/p>\n A rendering of one of San Francisco Bay Ferry\u2019s all-electric ferry vessels. Five new boats are joining the fleet over the next three years.\u00a0<\/p>\n Aurora Marine Design\/SF Bay Ferry<\/p>\n In the next three years, SF Bay Ferry is adding five ferries in two classes. Three new 150-passenger ferries will operate primarily between downtown San Francisco, Treasure Island and Mission Bay \u2014 the first high-speed, battery-electric, zero-emission ferries in the country. The first is due to arrive in 2027.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Two more battery-electric 400-passenger ferries will be used on Alameda and later Oakland routes, with arrivals starting in 2028. Why name the vessels now? Ferry officials need the names early for registration and planning purposes, while the boats are still under construction in Washington state.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the naming contest will work: You can submit your nomination for a ferry name in this survey<\/a>. The Chronicle and ferry officials will pick the finalists, then Chronicle readers will vote for the winners. The 10 finalists with the highest votes will go to the SF Bay Ferry\u2019s Board of Directors for final adoption. Readers who submit one of the winning names will get free rides on San Francisco Bay Ferry for a year and an invite to the vessel\u2019s christening. Act fast! If more than one person submits a name, the first person to enter it will be the winner.<\/p>\n So what are the rules? No boats named after corporations, brands or products, and no names of real people living or deceased. (As a feature of Bay Area weather, Karl \u2014 after the fog \u2014 is acceptable, but my lobbying to name a ferry after seafaring shooting guard Klay Thompson<\/a> ends here.) Boats also can\u2019t share a name with other major vessels operating regularly in San Francisco Bay.<\/p>\n Hall offers further guidance: \u201cWe\u2019re trying to celebrate the culture of the Bay broadly. Nothing political or religious. We\u2019re looking for (names) that express something about ferries and waterways and ecology or the environment where we operate.\u201d<\/p>\n San Francisco Bay Ferry Board Chair Jim\u00a0Wunderman welds a frame during a keel-laying ceremony for one of SF Bay Ferry\u2019s new 150-passenger all-electric vessels at All American Marine in Bellingham, Wash<\/p>\n SF Bay Ferry<\/p>\n You can read the full\u00a0contest entry rules here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n When the last two boats were dubbed Karl and Zalophus, the scientific name for sea lions, Cioppino, Chowder and Painted Lady were three other finalists.<\/p>\n I appreciate a formal name. SF Bay Ferry has classes of boats named after constellations and astrological signs. But I\u2019m hoping we get some fun ones from the Chronicle community. A few of mine that you can steal:<\/p>\n Claude: RIP to a motionless albino alligator king<\/a>. I\u2019m told famous animals bypass the \u201cno naming after people\u201d rule. He\u2019s an aquatic creature. And Claude is a tremendous name for a boat.<\/p>\n Hella: Since we can\u2019t name our boat Tupac, Zendaya, Keak da Sneak or Alysa Liu, I figure Hella or Hyphy is the next best thing. The Ferry Building is in S.F., but the boats serve more East Bay passengers than any other region. Oakland represent!<\/p>\n Quint: I\u2019m a movie buff. And Quint from \u201cJaws\u201d is the greatest maritime character<\/a> in movie history.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Dutch crunch: We need a regional food in here somewhere. Cioppino is also a great name for a boat. Or pupusa. So many regionally adored treats to choose from \u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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