SEATTLE — The Salish, the state ferry that plies Admiralty Inlet between Port Townsend and Coupeville, is now the MV Andres Muñoz, after the Seattle Mariners relief pitcher, temporarily.
Nothing will change visually. The ceremonial name change is being announced on each ferry run, according to Dana Warr, spokesperson for Washington State Ferries.
“It’s a simple gesture that we can do to support the Mariners during their playoff run,” Warr said Thursday.
Gov. Jay Inslee directed that the names of all state ferries be temporarily changed to honor the Seattle Mariners.
All 21 vessels in the fleet are being renamed after team players and personnel. The effort began Thursday.
The names will remain in place as long as the Mariners remain in the 2022 postseason.
“We are so proud of our Mariners for finally breaking our playoff drought and giving our fans the excitement of postseason baseball,” Inslee said.
“This honorary name change is a way to show our appreciation and for fans to feel even closer to the team by riding Motor Vessel Juliooooooooooo, MV Cal ‘Big Dumper’ Raleigh, MV Mariners ‘Good Vibes Only’ and the rest. Go Mariners!”
The Walla Walla has been rechristened the MV Juliooooooooooo. The Wenatchee has become MV Cal “Big Dumper” Raleigh and the Tacoma is now the MV Mariners “Good Vibes Only.”
Here is a list of other vessel names:
• Cathlamet: MV Diego Castillo.
• Chelan: MV J.P. Crawford.
• Chetzemoka: MV Marco Gonzales.
• Chimacum: MV Carlos Santana.
• Issaquah: MV Paul Sewald.
• Kaleetan: MV Adam Frazier.
• Kennewick: MV Dylan Moore.
• Kitsap: MV Los Bomberos.
• Kittitas: MV Mitch Haniger.
• Puyallup: MV Ty “Vive Le” France.
• Samish: MV Logan Gilbert.
• Sealth: MV Robbie Ray.
• Spokane: MV Luis “La Piedra” Castillo.
• Suquamish: MV The Skipper Scott Servais.
• Tillikum: MV George Kirby.
• Tokitae: MV Jarred Kelenic.
• Yakima: MV Eugenio Suárez.
A similar change was instituted in 2014 when the Seattle Seahawks played the Super Bowl.