New San Francisco Bay Ferry names reference 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' Willie Mays

San Francisco Bay Ferry’s board approved five official vessel names for the first high-speed, battery-powered, zero-emission ferries. The boats are expected to arrive in 2027 and 2028, with three vessels carrying 150 riders and two carrying 400 passengers. Doubtfire references the San Francisco-set Robin Williams film Mrs. Doubtfire. Rosie honors Rosie the Riveter. Say Hey references Willie Mays’ nickname, and Sea-Wolf is the title of a Jack London novel that begins with a bay ferry. Farallon nods to the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco. The names were selected through a reader poll supported by the San Francisco Chronicle, with Terrapin placing sixth among finalists.

"The next five San Francisco Bay Ferry boats have official names, courtesy of a San Francisco Chronicle poll and more than 26,000 votes from readers. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) On Thursday, San Francisco Bay Ferry's board of directors unanimously approved five final names."

"Those vessels, which will be the country's first high-speed, battery-powered, zero-emission ferries, are expected to arrive in 2027 and 2028. Three will have 150-rider capacities, and two will hold 400 passengers, according to the Chronicle."

"Doubtfire is a reference to " Mrs. Doubtfire," the San Francisco-set Robin Williams film. Farallon is a nod to the Farallon Islands, a group of islands off the coast of San Francisco. Say Hey references the Say Hey Kid, the nickname of Willie Mays, the legendary Giants center fielder. Sea-Wolf, the name that received the most votes, is the title of a Jack London novel that begins with a bay ferry, and Rosie is an allusion to Rosie the Riveter."

""These names represent such great elements of our region's history and culture, and we can't wait to see them painted on the side of our new fleet," Murphy told the Chronicle. Terrapin, a reference to the Grateful Dead album "Terrapin Station," placed sixth. Other finalist names included "Aurelia," "Hella," "Sourdough," "Frisco," "Starfleet" and "Cioppino.""

Read at SFGATE