MV Cathlamet

Last updated

Cathlametferry.jpg
The MV Cathlamet, arriving at Mukilteo.
History
NameCathlamet
Owner WSDOT
Operator Washington State Ferries
Port of registry Seattle, Washington, Flag of the United States.svg  United States
RouteFauntleroy-Vashon Island-Southworth
Builder Marine Power and Equipment, Seattle
Completed
  • 1981
  • Refit: 1991
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and type Issaquah-class auto/passenger ferry
Length328 ft (100.0 m)
Beam78 ft 8 in (24.0 m)
Draft16 ft 6 in (5.0 m)
Decks
  • 2 car decks
  • 1 passenger cabin deck
Deck clearance15 ft 6 in (4.7 m)
Installed powerTotal 5,000  hp (3,700 kW) from 2 diesel engines
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Capacity
  • 1,200 passengers
  • 124 vehicles (max 26 commercial) [2]
Crew12

The MV Cathlamet is an Issaquah-class ferry operated by Washington State Ferries. [3]

Contents

History

The Cathlamet was built in 1981, as an Issaquah-class ferry, [3] for service on the Mukilteo-Clinton route. In 1991, in order to keep up with growing demand, the Cathlamet, along with many of her sister ships were upgraded from Issaquah class to Issaquah 130-class ferries, by adding additional vehicle areas above the vehicle areas along the outside edge of the ferry. These upgrades had been planned for in the original design of the vessels. The ferry's passenger cabin was updated in the late 1990s, included in the upgrades were the removal of many tables located in the passenger cabin to allow for the bench seats to be spaced closer together in some sections of the ship, and an upgrade of the galley area.

Control issue

The Cathlamet is infamous in Puget Sound as it has on several occasions struck ferry docks while attempting to dock—occasionally referred to by Whidbey Island residents as the "Can't-land-it" and the "Crash-lamet," and a 1986 crash at the Mukilteo dock caused $500,000 in damage. [4] The problem was eventually traced to the computer that controls the pitch of the props, which because of a large amount of unshielded wiring, would short out a couple of signal lines causing the props to re-angle for full propulsion, instead of reversing. [5] The computer system was eventually replaced in the early 2000s, and since then, the Cathlamet has had two collisions. [6] [7]

Status

In late June 2014, the new Olympic-class ferry Tokitae replaced the Cathlamet on the Mukilteo/Clinton route. As a result, the Cathlamet was assigned to the Southworth/Vashon/Fauntleroy route to replace the Klahowya. [8] Since being assigned to the North Vashon Triangle route, the Cathlamet has often been used as a relief boat elsewhere showing up on the Seattle-Bremerton route or the Mukilteo-Clinton route in planned and unplanned shortages. In 2011 she sailed between Edmonds and Clinton for a few days due to work being done on the Mukilteo dock. [9]

On the morning of February 18, 2021, a propulsion issue was found on the Cathlamet, forcing the Sealth to take over the Southworth–Vashon Island–Fauntleroy route. Washington State Ferries estimated that repairs on the ferry would last at least a month. [10] A year later, on July 28, 2022, the Cathlamet collided with the pilings near the Fauntleroy dock, sustaining significant damage to one end in the process. According to WSDOT, no injuries were reported. [11] An investigation attributed the accident to human error, [12] and Cathlamet returned to service in April 2023. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington State Ferries</span> Public ferry service in Washington, US

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MV <i>Evergreen State</i>

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MV <i>Issaquah</i>

The MV Issaquah is an Issaquah-class ferry operated by Washington State Ferries.

MV <i>Kitsap</i>

MV Kitsap is an Issaquah-class ferry operated by Washington State Ferries. The Kitsap was built in 1980 as an Issaquah class and upgraded in 1992 moving it to the Issaquah 130 class due to adding an upper car deck. The vessel also received interior upgrades. The vessel used to have a rainbow color of blue, but has since been renovated with interior colors light, and dark blue, and dark green.

MV <i>Kittitas</i>

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MV <i>Tillikum</i>

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References

  1. ↑ The Issaquahs today, part 2 Archived October 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , evergreenfleet.com
  2. ↑ MV Cathlamet vessel information, WSF, WSDOT
  3. 1 2 "WSDOT - Ferries - M/V Cathlamet". www.wsdot.wa.gov. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kroman, David (August 1, 2022). "What's ahead for the WA ferry crash: Investigation and passenger service". Yakima Herald-Republic. Seattle, WA. The Seattle Times (TNS). Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Ferry crash, traffic nightmare". Whidbey News-Times. June 2, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ Gilmore, Susan (July 28, 2007). "Ferry system fires captain blamed for Mukilteo crash". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  7. ↑ "UPDATE: State ferry 'significantly' damaged, Fauntleroy dock closed, after 'hard landing'". West Seattle Blog. July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  8. ↑ "New ferry Tokitae will serve Mukilteo-Clinton route". HeraldNet.com. March 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ Route information, WSF, WSDOT
  10. ↑ Pilling, Nathan (February 18, 2021). "WSF: Ferry repairs will take at least a month, Bremerton left with one boat". Kitsap Sun. Gannett. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ Kroman, David (July 28, 2022). "Ferry crashes near West Seattle dock, sustaining heavy damage". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  12. ↑ Pilling, Nathan (March 20, 2023). "Washington State Ferries investigation into 2022 Cathlamet ferry crash faults captain". Kitsap Sun. Gannett. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Shepherd, Elizabeth (March 8, 2023). "Trials to restore three-boat service to begin in April". Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. Retrieved May 18, 2023.


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