System length 1.7 miles | Travel time 15 minutes (2011) | |
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Route Point Defiance–Tahlequah, Washington Authority Waterway Dalco Passage (Puget Sound) | ||
The Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound between the Point Defiance ferry terminal in Tacoma and Tahlequah, Washington, on the southern tip of Vashon Island. Since 1951 the only ferries employed on the route have belonged to the Washington state ferry system, currently the largest ferry system in the United States. Point Defiance-Tahlequah is the shortest route in the system.
Contents
Map of Point Defiance - Tahlequah, Washington, USA
Description
This ferry route is 1.7 miles long, with terminals at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma and, on Vashon Island, at Tahlequah.
Vessels
Until 1967, the wooden ferry Skansonia (capacity: 308 passengers, 32 autos) was regularly assigned to the route. In 1967, Skansonia, built in 1929, was replaced with Hiyu (capacity: 200 passengers, 40 autos), which had been built specifically for the route. However, traffic soon outpaced the Hiyu, which was replaced by the 48-car ferry M/V Rhododendron. Since 2012, Chetzemoka has served the route.