In 2022, the Washington State Department of Transportation plans to build an all-new hybrid-electric ferry as part of the Washington State Ferries, and they have turned to the public to suggest names for the new vessel. That is why I am asking you to support my project to name WSF’s new ferry “Columbia”, named after the Columbia River.

The Columbia River has played a major role in the history of Washington State, and its name would match well with the first hybrid-electric ferry. According to an article published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Columbia River accounts for one of the largest sources of hydroelectric power generated anywhere in the nation. In 2012, hydroelectric power plants on the Columbia alone generated 44% of the hydroelectric power in the nation.

There are also historical reasons for naming this new ferry the Columbia. For example, did you know that the Columbia River itself was named after a vessel? The Columbia River was named after the Columbia Rediviva, a ship involved in the fur trade in the Pacific Northwest in the 1790s. 

If the new hydroelectric ferry were to be named the Columbia, it would not only be a nod to Washington’s waterways and history, but it would also be a fitting name that supports the use of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

If you like my idea for the new name, please consider signing my post on change.org. My proposal for the name needs to be submitted by the end of the month, so I appreciate your support in raising awareness for this cause, and for helping to preserve this important piece of Washington State’s vast history.