Ferry McFerryface? NSW government launches naming competition for new ferries

Sydneysiders will have naming rights over a new fleet of city ferries after the NSW government embraced popular and online democracy on Friday - but within limits.

The "Name Your Ferry" competition comes just two months after the British government retreated red-faced from a similar naming competition.

"This is an Australian first, we're opening up naming suggestions to the public and six of those names will take a place in Sydney's history forever," Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.

The six ferries are currently being built in Tasmania, with the first of fleet due to hit the Sydney Harbour circuit this summer.

"Don't be shy," the competition website implores the public, encouraging suggestions to be shared on social media using the #yourferry hashtag.

But the government has included a number of measures to guard against the democratic process being hijacked by a groundswell of silliness.

Just a few short hours after the competition was launched, one name was already receiving warm endorsement on social media: Ferry McFerryface.

In May, the British government's "Name Our Ship" campaign attracted global attention after the name "Boaty McBoatface" won an online poll to christen the government's new £200 million ($380 million) polar research ship.

In a blow to democracy, the government ignored the will of the people and settled on RRS Sir David Attenborough, the fourth-place entry.

Perhaps anticipating a deluge of such inspired - if inappropriate - suggestions, the NSW government has tightened the leash on the public's creative brainstorming.

The names are required to fall into three categories: Arts and Culture; Connections to Sydney Harbour; or Science, Environment and Innovation.

"The new fleet will quickly become part of the harbour vista for locals and visitors, and we need the names to reflect Sydney and NSW," Mr Constance said

"Ferry McFerryface" is also unlikely to make it past the government's hand-picked four person panel.

The panel - which includes former NSW Volunteer of the Year Patrick Dodd and NSW Young Australian of the Year Melissa Abu-Gazaleh - will compile a shortlist of nine names for each of the four designated categories.

The public will then be re-engaged to select the winners from the final list in late August.

Australian National Maritime Museum director Kevin Sumption and Australian Museum director Kim McKay are also on the panel.

The crowdsourced competition is a novel departure from the Department of Transport's naming process.

Before settling on the "Opal" card, the department used market research to wade through a list of dubious options, including "Zoomerang", "Ripper Mate", and "e-tripper".