Trendy transportation

Australian union unhappy with ferry's new name

Trendy transportation
Australia chose Ferry McFerryface for a new harbour ferry. But the union responsible failed to see the funny side. Shutterstock

SYDNEY — An Australian maritime union is unhappy about the name of a new boat many of its members will be working on.

The name? Ferry McFerryface.

The label came about after the New South Wales state government asked the public to vote on a name for one of its six new ferries.

“Boaty McBoatface” was the top choice, but that was also the most popular choice by the British public in 2016 when they were asked to name a polar research vessel (the government eventually overturned that vote).

So Australia chose Ferry McFerryface for the harbour ferry. But the union failed to see the funny side.

“The transport minister is demonstrating here that he treats public transport as a joke,” said Paul Garrett, spokesperson for the Maritime Union of Australia, noting that ferries traditionally are named after Sydney’s beaches or successful Olympians.

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