Let’s face it. Ferry boats are part of Edmonds’ DNA. Scenic photos of boats pulling into the downtown dock abound, and city traffic patterns ebb and flow along with the ferry schedule. So why not make it official by naming the state’s newest ferry boat after our fair city?
Edmonds resident Greg Urban floated that idea Tuesday morning, sending an email to the City of Edmonds and Edmonds Chamber of Commerce officials. According to Urban, the Washington State Department of Transportation is taking suggestions for naming a new ferry that will go into service in 2011. The deadline for submitting names is April 30.
“I think the city and residents of Edmonds should lobby for the name “M/V Edmonds,” Urban said, noting it would be “a great way to promote the city.”
Mayor Gary Haakenson said he’s on board with the idea, and has emailed the ferry system suggesting they add “Edmonds” to the list of potential names.
Do we have a shot? Well, here are the guidelines that state transportation commissioners use for naming a ferry:
• Names for ferries should carry statewide significance and represent our state’s image and
culture.
• Specifically, names should represent such things as: state adopted symbols, tribal names, names
of bodies of water, geographic locations, cities, counties, or relate to nautical heritage, etc.
• Consideration will be given to the consistency with existing WSF fleet names. NOTE: All but two
current vessels have tribal names:  the Rhododendron and the Evergreen State.
• Names should have broad familiarity, be easy to pronounce, are nonâ€offensive and meet ethical
standards.
• Names with commercial overtones or names honoring or commemorating individuals should be
avoided, but will be considered upon very careful review.
More details on the naming process can be found here.
The names proposed so far, according to the state DOT:
– Al-ki: the Washington State Motto meaning “By and Byâ€
– Kulshan: a name given to Mount Baker by indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest, meaning “White sentinel†(ie: “mountainâ€)
– Lushoot: short for Lushoot-seed, is a member of the Salish language family.
– Tokitae: a Coast Salish greeting meaning “Nice day, pretty colors,†and also the name given to an orca whale captured at Penn Cove, near Keystone, in 1970.
No word yet on whether city and chamber officials will be supporting the idea. What do you think?
All the existing ferries are named after tribes or other native american words. Edmonds is a misspelled white guys name. I don’t feel it would fit in with the existing naming conventions.