Skagit Kalama-class ferry

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)

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.

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 Seattle–Vashon 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.

  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.