Name MV Samish Length 110 m Draft 5 m Builder Vigor Industrial LLC | Ordered Spring 2012 Construction started 8 March 2013 Beam 25 m | |
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Owner Washington State Department of Transportation Operator Washington State Ferries Port of registry Seattle, Washington, United States Route Anacortes–San Juan Islands Place built Seattle, Washington, United States | ||
The MV Samish is the second vessel of the Olympic-class auto ferries built by Vigor Industrial for the Washington State Ferries system. The vessel started service with her maiden voyage to Friday Harbor as the #3 Boat in the San Juans on June 14, 2015.
Contents
History
Funding for a second Olympic-class was authorized in the spring 2012 session of the Washington State Legislature and the keel laying and first weld took place on March 8, 2013.
The name Samish was decided by the Washington State Transportation Commission on November 13, 2012 (the same day of the naming of the MV Tokitae) after a public outreach process. The vessel is named after the Samish Indian Nation, a Coast Salish tribe whose name means “giving people”.
On December 21, 2013, the ship's superstructure was rolled out from Nichols Brothers Boat Builders and sent to Seattle on December 23 to be joined with the superstructure already under construction.
The Samish was accepted by Washington State Ferries on April 10, 2015 and was officially christened on May 20 in Anacortes. The ship underwent two months of sea trials and crew training before entering service on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route at the start of the Summer 2015 sailing season on June 14 at 9:05am sailing from Anacortes to Friday Harbor.
The Samish is also listed as one of the 10 Best Passenger Ships of 2015 (the year she was launched), on Marine Log.
Routes
The Samish has served only on two routes, the Anacortes-San Juan Islands route is her main route, but she has also served on the Mukilteo-Clinton route, filling in for her sister ship, the M/V Tokitae.
Incidents
The Samish was pulled from service on February 21, 2016, after the discovery of a quarter-sized hole in the hull below the water line, later found during a drydock inspection to be linked to corrosion. The ferry was re-entered service on March 10 after some minor patchwork.
Numbers and Ship Recognition
The Samish has three numbers used to identify it. The first is her IMO Number. The Samish's IMO Number is 9720251. Her MMSI (Marine Mobile Service Identity), 367649320. Her Radio Call Sign WDH7552. The Samish is owned by Washington State Ferries, a branch of the Washington State Department of Transportation. She is US Flagged, and listed as an AIS Passenger Vessel.