Members of the Seattle band Soundgarden stepped aboard a new research vessel to help christen it on Wednesday months after its name — SoundGuardian — was inspired in part by the grunge legends.
The name for King County’s new 48-foot, twin-hulled environmental research vessel was announced in January after a naming contest drew 319 votes. SoundGuardian led the way with 178 votes. The runners up were “Cascadia,” with 126 votes, and “SeaKing,” with 15 votes.
According to the county’s news release, Environmental Laboratory field scientists will use the SoundGuardian “to collect water quality data in Puget Sound, Lake Washington and the Duwamish River. The new vessel, which will replace the 40-year-old Liberty, will be cleaner, more efficient and safer to operate in rough waters.”
Tweets on Wednesday by King County Executive Dow Constantine and others showed Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron and guitarist Kim Thayil aboard the vessel and pouring champagne off the bow.
https://twitter.com/kcexec/status/748213672967708672
Matt Cameron, drummer for Soundgarden, signs a placard that will be in SoundGuardian, county's new research vessel pic.twitter.com/EOG5JBYeou
— Dow Constantine (@kcexec) June 29, 2016
View from the captain's deck as Exec dedicates SoundGuardian, King County's new environmental research vessel pic.twitter.com/d5UpLlBWFq
— Dow Constantine (@kcexec) June 29, 2016
With @soundgarden @Mitch_Pittman aboard @KingCountyWTD new research vessel – the "Soundguardian" pic.twitter.com/X1QIXfIOlG
— Alison Morrow (@AlisonMorrowK5) June 29, 2016
The SoundGuardian, our new environmental research vessel that will support our water quality mission. pic.twitter.com/i0NBIKVyXw
— King County WTD (@KingCountyWTD) June 29, 2016
Fittingly, Soundgarden got it’s name from “A Sound Garden,” a large sculpture on the grounds of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration campus on the shore of Lake Washington near Magnuson Park.
The county said the winning SoundGuardian name was submitted by Bruce Kessler, who lives in unincorporated south King County. He will receive a commemorative plaque and a tour of the vessel.