❖ M.V. SAMISH CHRISTENING 20 MAY 2015 ❖

The Shifty Sailors
entertaining on the clean, new car deck 
aboard M. V. SAMISH
Anacortes, WA., 20 May 2015
Photo by Allison Hart Lengyel©
for Saltwater People Historical Society

The Olympic-class ferry M.V. SAMISH was christened today, May 20, at the ferry landing in Anacortes, Washington. The $126 million SAMISH is the second of three planned Olympic-class ferries that will replace ships in operation since the 1950s. Washington State launched the first Olympic-class ferry, the TOKITAE, in March 2014; the third ferry, the CHIMACUM, is still under construction. A fourth and possibly fifth ship may follow, depending on financing from the state legislature.

      Problems with the TOKITAE’s propulsion system, which caused 26 sailings to be cancelled last year, informed the construction of the SAMISH; in addition, the TOKITAE's car ramps, with a steep angle that scraped the bottom of cars, were also redesigned for all three ferries. The SAMISH will accommodate up to 144 cars, which is 50 more cars than the ferry it will replace on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands run. After two months of sea trials, the SAMISH will begin its first day of active service June 14.

The Samish Nation honored the 
M.V. SAMISH at christening
20 May 2015, Anacortes, WA. 
Photo by Allison Hart Lengyel ©
for the Saltwater People Historical Society

      On hand at the christening were members of the Samish Indian Nation, for whom the ferry is named. Tribal Chairman, Tom Wooten, spoke on behalf of the Samish. Members of the tribe also performed a traditional song of welcome, after thanking people who were instrumental in the design, construction, and funding for the ferry. Other dignitaries present included members of the San Juan County Council; Frank Foti, CEO of Vigor Industrial Co, the company that built the ferry; Anacortes Mayor, Laurie Gere; and State Assistant Transportation Secretary, Lynn Griffith. Governor Jay Inslee’s wife, Trudi Inslee, performed the christening itself with a bottle of champagne.

      In addition to increased capacity, the SAMISH also features wider car lanes and wider companionways, an ADA-compliant car-deck restroom, large sundecks at either end of the ferry with wrap-around windows, and advanced radar and navigation controls.

Written for Saltwater People Historical Society by Allison Hart Lengyel, San Juan County guest at this event.
S.P.H.S. includes three book reviews by AHL, viewed easily with a search on this Log using the tag, Allison Hart Lengyel.