Pinkletink and Boaty McBoatface won’t soon be plying the waters between Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven, having failed to make the short-list of names for the newest additions to the Steamship Authority fleet.
SSA Communications director Sean Driscoll said this week that an SSA contest received more than 8,000 communications with more than 9,000 suggestions of new names for two freight ferries that are expected to go into service next summer.
The boat line is in the process of purchasing the two offshore service vessels from Hornbeck Offshore Services in Louisiana, which is stipulating as part of the sale that they must be renamed within 30 days of changing hands.
“We appreciate, but sadly must recommend rejecting, various references to Jaws that were submitted, as well as Boaty McBoatface, Ferry McFerryface and Steamy McSteamface,” Mr. Driscoll told a Tuesday meeting of the port council.
References to Gilligan’s Island also failed to make the cut, he added, while East Chop and West Chop — proposed by 95 and 90 people — were deemed potentially confusing in case of a vessel emergency.
Likely due to the larger population here, Mr. Driscoll said, Martha’s Vineyard-related monikers dominated the list of more than 100 that received at least 10 suggestions. Menemsha, Tashmoo, Inkwell, Squibnocket, Chappy and Pinkletink were among those that received 10 or more votes, but are out of consideration.
Seeking a balanced representation of the SSA’s communities, boat line staffers winnowed down that roster to a slate of nine: M/V Noepe, the most popular suggestion with 295 submissions; M/V Wampanoag (162 submissions); M/V Aquinnah (143); M/V Moshup (102); M/V Madaket (39); M/V Siasconset (15); M/V New Bedford (18) and M/V Hyannis (13).
At Tuesday’s port council meeting, M/V Monomoy (16 submissions) was added by Nantucket port council member Nathaniel Lowell.
The contest to nominate names for the new boats was closed on Sept. 5. The boat line board of governors will review the recommendations at their Sept. 27 meeting.
Along with getting new names, the former oil rig support boats will be retrofitted to carry freight between the Cape and Islands.
Here are the suggested names that received at least 10 votes: Noepe (295), Wampanoag (162), Aquinnah (143), Moshup (102), East Chop (95), West Chop (90), Menemsha (80), Gosnold (77), Tashmoo (73), Tuckernuck (58), Osprey (58), Squibnocket (54), Amity (53), Vineyard Sound (52), Nobska (49), Inkwell (48), Orca (46), Boaty Mcboatface (42), Maria Mitchell (41), Madaket (39), First Light (39), Washashore (33), Muskeget (32), Coatue (32), Island Time (31), Madaket Millie (30), Whaler (28), Grey Lady (28), Great Point (28) Chappy (28), Quahog (27), Wasque (26), Pequod (26), Mishoon (25), Islander (25), Brant Point (25), Sengekontacket (24), Holmes Hole (24), Oak Bluffs (23), Moby Dick (23), Great White (22), Jaws (21), Cuttyhunk (21), Cottage City (21), Chappaquiddick (21), Moby (20), Mayhew (20), Coskata (20), Sconset (19), Nauset (19), Lucy Vincent (19), New Bedford (18), Cape Poge (18), Wauwinet (17), Wampum (17), Millie (17), Maushop (17), Massasoit (17), Ishmael (17), Tisbury (16), Sherburne (16), Monomoy (16), Melville (16), Liberty (16), Island Bound (16), Essex (16), Vineyard Haven (15), Starbuck (15), Siasconset (15), Island Dream (15), Fair Winds (15), Ferry Mcferryface (15), Dionis (15), Scrimshaw (14), Piping Plover (14), Queequeg (14), Chilmark (14), Bigger Boat (14), Cachalot (14), Bartholomew Gosnold (14), Nobnocket (13), Hyannis (13), Islander (13), Gray Lady (13), Tashtego (12), Naushon (12), Martha (12), Miacomet (12), Makonikey (12), Herman Melville (12), Island Breeze (12), Cape Pogue (12), Tranquility (11), Patriot (11), Sandpiper (11), Marconi (11) Katama (11), Hydrangea (11), Cisco (11), Dorcas Honorable (11), Cape Cod (11), Vineyarder (10), Veranda (10), Seas The Day (10), Pinkletink (10), Island Queen (10), Freedom (10), Cape Codder (10), Bruce (10).
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