If I go cold-sixth-boro-turkey and don’t inhale the harbor air or take in the sights steaming in from all corners of the globe, I get jittery, feel constrained.
There’s lots that fires up the imagination for me, but what really stokes my machinery is
the names. Following is a list of names I’ve seen on on East Coast US AIS the past few days . . . some in far-off places but what evocative names!! I’m NOT talking yachts. These are container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers.
Red Lily, Angelic Power, Tango Sea, Atlantic Tramp, Silver Soul, Ivory Girl, Pink, Billion Trader, Romantic . . . Wow!! There’s nothing routine or lackluster or sinister about those. Who in a company comes up with these? I’d love to hear what “off the air” commentary gets expressed about these names. What is the most memorable vessel name you’ve ever seen?
Do you have any favorites?
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February 27, 2013 at 11:51 am
eastriver
Vessel names are a constant source of amusement for me as I sail here and there. I’ve occasionally opined that there should be an IMO committee who examines proposed vessel names that may sound just fine in one language, but just don’t work in others… e.g. “Thundering Blossom” or some such.
The US fleet lately seems to be drowning in what I call “drama” names: Courageous, Defiance, stuff like that. You know who you are.
I have always wanted to encounter one of the Jo chemical tankers – Jo Cedar, Jo Spirit, etc. which was named Jo Mama. Probably won’t happen…
February 27, 2013 at 12:12 pm
tugster
eastriver– you bring up an interesting topic of translated names . . . or not. my favorite is the container vessel APL Cyprine. in English, that sounds vaguely like an allusion to a certain mediterranean island. in French, however . . . well, you can read t here even if you THINK you can’t read French: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprine_(sécrétion)
February 27, 2013 at 12:30 pm
eastriver
Like that ad says: “Ya can’t make this stuff up!”
February 28, 2013 at 8:41 am
jeff s
the name ROARING BULL, the still active paddlewheel ferry at Millersburg,Pa., has a certain charm.