MV Rhododendron

MV Rhododendron arriving at Tahlequah Ferry Terminal
History
Name	1947-1951: Gov. Herbert R. O'Conner 1951-present: MV Rhododendron
Owner	1947-1951: Chesapeake Bay Ferry System 1951-2013: WSDOT 2013-present: Atlantic Capes Fisheries[1]
Operator	1947-1951: Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company 1951-2012: Washington State Ferries
Port of registry	1951-present: Seattle, Washington,  United States
Builder	Maryland Drydock Company, Baltimore
Completed	1947 Refit: 1990
Out of service	January 23, 2012
Identification	IMO number: 8836118 MMSI number: 366772790 Callsign: WB6079[2] Official Number: 2516446
Status	Retired
General characteristics
Class and type	Rhododendron-class auto/passenger ferry
Tonnage	937
Length	227 ft 6 in (69.3 m)
Beam	62 ft (18.9 m)
Draft	10 ft (3.0 m)
Deck clearance	13 ft 6 in (4.1 m)
Installed power	2,172 hp
Propulsion	2 Diesel engines
Speed	11 kn (20 km/h)
Capacity	546 passengers 48 vehicles (max 15 commercial)[3]

The Motor Vessel Rhododendron was the sole Rhododendron-class ferry operated by Washington State Ferries. She was named for the state flower of Washington, the rhododendron. She was referred to affectionately as "The Rhody" by residents of Vashon Island.

The Rhododendron was one of two similar Chesapeake Bay ferries that were purchased to become part of the WSF fleet in the 1950s; the other being the now-retired MV Olympic. The Rhododendron's former name was the MV Governor Herbert R. O'Conor. She was originally purchased to be used in the interim while other new ferries were being built.

The ferry was retired in January 2012 and was sold in February 2013.^[1] It is currently anchored in Fanny Bay, British Columbia, where it serves as a storage and operations platform for nearby oyster farming.