B.C. Ferries is staging a contest to name three new vessels that it’s having built in Poland.
And as with the Coastal-class vessels, and the catamarans before them, geographic place names aren’t in the running.
The contest started Tuesday and continues through June 9. The first of the three intermediate-class ferries arrives next year.
Three prizes of $500 in B.C. Ferries travel vouchers will be awarded. Winners will be announced in July.
“This is a chance to leave a lasting legacy in coastal communities in British Columbia,” said Corrine Storey, Ferries’ vice-president of customer services.
The new ferries, to be used on the Gulf Islands and Comox-Powell River routes, will each have a double-barreled name: They will all share a first name that identifies their class, while second names will be individual to each vessel.
A class refers to a group of vessels with similar designs, such as the Queen and Spirit classes.
Second names are supposed to be descriptive, such as the Renaissance and Inspiration in the Coastal class ferries.
There’s a limit of one entry per person, each with three suggested names. Entrants must be B.C. residents at least 19 years old.
Storey said Tuesday that the age limit is in place because entrants must be able to sign off on and understand the terms and conditions of the contest and agree to the release of information.
Names must be gender-neutral, appeal to residents and visitors and reflect B.C. Ferries and the coastal communities it serves. They cannot be geography-specific or reference an individual or event, or contain words currently used on a B.C. ferry or vessel-class name, such as Queen, Spirit or Island.
In the past, ferry names carried geographical references, such as the Skeena Queen and Spirit of Vancouver Island, but passengers sometimes found that confusing, because ships can move around the fleet and not serve the area they are named for, Storey said. Symbols or accents are not allowed, although words using punctuation marks such as apostrophes are permitted.
A judging panel will create a short list of names. Panel members are from B.C. Ferries advisory committees, employees and local media. The panel will send up to nine names to the B.C. Ferries executive management committee for a final selection.
B.C. Ferries has contracted with Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland, at a cost of $165 million, to design, build and deliver the three intermediate-class vessels, which will run on liquefied natural gas. Each will be 351 feet long with capacity for 145 vehicles and 600 passengers.
The ferries are expected to be delivered in August and October of 2016, and February of 2017.
To enter, go to bcferries.com.
