MV Sealth

MV Sealth docked at Bainbridge Island
History
NameSealth
OwnerWSDOT
OperatorWashington State Ferries
Port of registrySeattle, Washington,  United States
RouteFauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth
BuilderMarine Power and Equipment, Seattle
Completed
  • 1982
  • Refit: 2006
In service1985
Identification
StatusIn Service - Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth
General characteristics
Class and typeIssaquah-class auto/passenger ferry
Displacement3,310 long tons (3,360 t)
Length328 ft (100.0 m)
Beam78 ft 8 in (24.0 m)
Draft15 ft 6 in (4.7 m)
Decks1 auto deck/1 passenger deck
Deck clearance15 ft 2 in (4.6 m)
Installed powerTotal 5,000 hp (3,700 kW) from 2 diesel engines
PropulsionDiesel
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Capacity
  • 1,200 passengers
  • 90 vehicles (max 30 commercial)[2]
Crew10

The MV Sealth is a Issaquah-class ferry operated by Washington State Ferries. She is named for Chief Sealth. The Sealth underwent cabin rebuilding in last 2006, after which she was in service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route. The Sealth was then the #2 vessel on the route. Earlier she was taken out of service due to a seam needing weld repairs.[3]

MV Sealth nearing Colman Dock

The Sealth was not listed to return to the San Juan Islands in late 2015. She was in service at Seattle/Bremerton and switched to the Vashon route mid-fall and she remained there until the Winter 2016 schedule began. She replaced the MV Klahowya as the inter-island ferry in the San Juans when it was retired. She is currently on the San Juan’s inter-island and San Juans Anacortes routes during low traffic times of day.

Incidents

On November 7, 2012, the Sealth was serving the Bremerton run when a hole four feet under the waterline at No. 2 end port side was discovered.[4] The ferry was pulled from service in the day and the leak was fixed a week later at Dakota Creek Shipyard of Anacortes. This caused the MV Salish to be put on the run, causing a loss of 30% percent of the run's regular car capacity.

In 1991, the Sealth collided with the MV Kitsap in Rich Passage in heavy fog. No major damage was reported.

References

  1. ^ Issaquah's Today Part 2 - M/V Sealth Archived October 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, evergreenfleet.com
  2. ^ Vessel information - M/V Sealth, WSF, WSDOT
  3. ^ Route information - M/V Sealth, WSF, WSDOT
  4. ^ "News release regarding leak" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2013.