This ferry at Pyrmont Bay ferry wharf, beside the Australian National Maritime Museum, is a new Emerald class ferry operated by Sydney Ferries which entered service on Sydney Harbour in 2017. It was controversially named "Ferry McFerryface" after a public vote supposedly resulted in "Boaty McBoatface" winning, but apparently changed by the Transport Minister since the name had already been used overseas. However, the Maritime Union of Australia refused to crew the vessel in protest at the name and subsequently it was controversially revealed that the name had not in fact been the competition winner, but was selected by the minister himself. So now it will be renamed "May Gibbs", after the popular Australian children's author.
Things like that should never be open to public voting, because of course it'll end up attracting trolls to mass-vote what they think is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI love the backstory on this. I often think that the public naming contests are a sham.
ReplyDeletetrès belle image !
ReplyDeleteI managed to photograph that ferry when I visited Sydney a few weeks ago, I knew nothing about the competition just thought it was a funny name to go with the Australian sense of humour. Have a nice weekend Jim.
ReplyDeleteI think most Aussies thought it was fun until they discovered the sneaky methods of the politician.
DeleteI would have stuck with Ferry McFerryface myself, and given May Gibbs black humour, so would have she, I reckon!
ReplyDeleteThat's a funny story! I think the children's author, Ms. Gibbs, would've loved to have turned that into a tale. :-)
ReplyDeleteAn attractive and cheerful view of the city! Oh, too bad, I thought Ferry Mcferryface would be a great and funny name, haha. Thank you for adding the funny story for All Seasons! Have a great week, Jim:)
ReplyDeleteWho knew naming a boat could be so controversial!
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