An armada of organisations have launched social media campaigns to plug their favourite names for Sydney’s new ferry fleet using the hashtag #yourferry.

The NSW government is asking the public to help name its fleet of six new ferries, which will hit the harbour this summer.

 There are three categories  in the Name Your Ferry Competition each with twelve possible names: Arts and Culture, Connections to Sydney Harbour and Science, Environment and Innovation.

Choices include Brett Whiteley, Victor Chang, Eternity, Ken Done, Pemulwuy and Dame Marie Bashir and convict ferryman settler Billy Blue.

The Fred Hollows Foundation is pushing for their founder to make the grade, the Victor Chang Institute is appealing for public support for the pioneering heart surgeon, Hamlin Fistula is keen for its founder Catherine Hamlin to appear on a ferry while the Ken Done Gallery is backing the artist to, perhaps, paint his own name one of the new ferries.

Sadly the names Boaty McBoatface or Ferry McFerryface did not make the final cut, neither did other amusing suggestions, including I Am Not a Robot (which appears when voters cast their votes) or Bryan Ferry, Government News’ personal favourite.

The UK made global headlines in May when the name Boaty McBoatface became the runaway favourite in a competition to name a polar research ship. Despite the win, the UK government named the ship RRS Sir David Attenborough, the famous British broadcaster and naturalist.

A remotely operated sub-sea vehicle was named Boaty in recognition of the strong public support for the comedy name. Perhaps Sydney Ferries can name a lifeboat Bryan Ferry, Marcia Hines or Margaret Pomerantz.

The NSW Name Your Ferry competition was launched in July and the response was huge, with 15,000 suggestions submitted.

A panel of four has whittled the choices down to 36 and public voting is open until midnight on September 19.

NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said he wanted everyone in NSW to get involved in naming the new fleet.

“This is a chance for everyone to be a part of our maritime history and vote on the names that will grace the next generation of vessels on our famous harbour,” Mr Constance said.

“We’ve had some truly great ideas put forward including names like Jørn Utzon, Catherine Hamlin and Victor Chang,” Mr Constance said.

Mr Constance said that ferry names were selected based on their local and cultural significance, as well as their connection to Sydney and the harbour. The panel also considered how the names fit together as a fleet.

From today until midnight September 19, people can vote for up to six names in one category. The six most voted for names in one category will become the names for the new ferry fleet.

Voters can win one of 50 family passes to take a ride on one of the new ferries.

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