Skagit Kalama-class ferry

The Skagit / Kalama-class ferries were high-speed passenger vessels built for Washington State Ferries (WSF) in 1989. The MV Skagit and MV Kalama were the only ferries in this class.

Skagit / Kalama class
Class overview
BuildersHalter Marine, New Orleans, Louisiana[1]
Built1989
In service1989–present
Completed2
Lost1
General characteristics
Typepassenger ferry
Length112 feet (34 m)
Beam25 feet (7.6 m)
Draft8 feet (2.4 m)
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)

After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the pair were loaned to San Francisco where they ferried passengers while the damaged San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge was repaired.[1] Later the pair served the SeattleVashon Island route.[2]

Both vessels were permanently docked in 2009 after WSF was directed to end its passenger-only service, and in 2011 they were sold for $400,000 and expected to be transported to Tanzania where they would provide service between the mainland and Zanzibar.[2][3] On 18 July 2012, Skagit capsized and sank off the coast of Tanzania, near the island of Unguja. More than 250 people were believed to be on board at the time.

References

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  1. ^ a b Drake, Shawn (18 July 2012). "MV Skagit, Former U.S. Ferry Capsizes Off Tanzanian Coast". Maritime Matters. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b Sultan, Ali (20 July 2012). "Death toll rises to 31 in Tanzania ferry accident". Bloomberg Businessweek. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Washington ferries destined for Tanzania". Washington State Department of Transportation (Press release). 18 February 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
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