MV Elwha
 The MV Elwha passing Flat Point between Lopez Island and Canoe Island | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Owner: | WSDOT |
| Operator: | Washington State Ferries |
| Port of registry: |
Seattle, Washington,  USA |
| Route: | Anacortes - San Juan Islands |
| Completed: |
|
| Status: | In Service - Anacortes/San Juans/Sidney, B.C. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Super-class ferry |
| Tonnage: |
|
| Length: | 382 ft 2 in (116.5 m) |
| Beam: | 73 ft 2 in (22.3 m) |
| Draft: | 18 ft 9 in (5.7 m) |
| Decks: | 2 auto decks/2 passenger decks |
| Deck clearance: | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Installed power: | Total 10,200 hp from 4 × Diesel-Electric engines |
| Speed: | 20 kn (37 km/h) |
| Capacity: |
|
MV Elwha is a Super-class ferry in the Washington State Ferry System.
Elwha is usually working the Anacortes-San Juan Islands route, and is one of only two ferries in the system certified for international sailings because she meets certain Safety Of Life At Sea (or, SOLAS) standards. This allows Elwha to make the crossing between the United States and British Columbia. The only other vessel in the system with this certification is Chelan. On October 2, 1983 the Elwha ran aground in Grindstone Harbor.[1][2] On 7 April 2006, one of Elwha's two propulsion drive motors suffered a catastrophic failure.[3] The ferry did not reenter service until August 2007 leading to an out of service time of 16 months.[4] Starting during that period, Elwha remained on hiatus from her regular operations on the Sidney route while Chelan replaced her. In fall 2010, Elwha returned to regular operations on this route and continued for the first few days of the Spring 2011 service, before Chelan resumed regular operations on the route. Elwha appeared on the route again for fall 2011.
The Elwha had a number of sailings canceled on July 10, 2015 due to "necessary repairs" as stated by WSDOT, and the vessel was out of service for the entire day. On July 11, the vessel was removed from service and will "be out of service for four months due to emergency repairs". The Kitsap was pulled from Bremerton and will sail in the Elwha's #5 position for the remainder of the summer sailing season. After having her drive motor repaired for the summer/early fall, the Elwha made her return to the Sidney route on November 3rd, 2015 in the #1 position and will continue to provide service to Sidney until the route closes for the season at the end of December.
References
- ↑ http://sanjuanupdate.com/2012/02/passing-peggy-warrack-the-siren-of-the-san-juans/ retrieved 1/19/15
- ↑ http://www.dennisnybackfilms.com/2012/02/1313/ retrieved 1/19/15
- ↑ Jacobson, Kimberly (20 September 2006). "New State Ferry Wave2Go System for Tickets". Anacortes American. Archived from the original on 27 September 2006.
- ↑ "MV Elwha". Westcoast Ferries Forum. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2012.