MV Spokane
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Spokane sailing to Kingston.JPG |Ship caption=MV Spokane sailing from Edmonds to Kingston. }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship name=Spokane |Ship owner=WSDOT |Ship operator=Washington State Ferries |Ship registry=Seattle, Washington |Ship route= Edmonds-Kingston |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Todd Shipyards, Seattle |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= |Ship completed=1972 |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship maiden voyage=February 13, 1973 |Ship in service=February 24, 1973 |Ship out of service= |Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|7214325}}
|Ship fate= |Ship status=In service |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class={{sclass2|Jumbo|ferry|0}} auto/passenger ferry |Ship tonnage=* {{GT|3246}}
|Ship displacement={{cvt|4859|LT|t}} |Ship length={{convert|440|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|87|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= |Ship draft={{convert|16|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship decks=4 |Ship deck clearance={{convert|15|ft|8|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship sail plan= |Ship power=Total {{cvt|11,500|hp}} from 4 x diesel-electric engines |Ship propulsion=Diesel-electric (DC) |Ship speed={{convert|18|kn|lk=in}} |Ship capacity=*2,000 passengers
|Ship crew= |Ship notes= }} |
MV Spokane is a {{sclass2|Jumbo|ferry}} operated by Washington State Ferries. She was built in 1972 by the Todd Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, for the Seattle–Bainbridge route. The ship remained assigned there until the construction of the {{sclass2|Jumbo Mark-II|ferry|4}} in the late 1990s displaced her to the Edmonds–Kingston route, where she has remained since.
Perhaps one of the most notable features of the Spokane is her colorful interior which she has sported since being rebuilt in the mid 1990s.
Naming
Spokane was named for the Spokane tribe by the Washington State Highway Commission, continuing the tradition of naming ferry vessels for Native American tribes that was started by the Puget Sound Navigation Company. At least seven other vessels had carried the name "Spokane" prior to the launch of the ferry in 1972.{{cite web |title=M/V Spokane |url=http://www.wsdot.com/ferries/vesselwatch/VesselDetail.aspx?vessel_id=30 |publisher=Washington State Ferries |access-date=September 10, 2016}}
History
Spokane was launched by Todd Shipyards on April 14, 1972, and christened by Carol Stearns of the Spokane tribe. On the same day, the keel for {{MV|Walla Walla}} was laid at the shipyard.{{cite news |date=April 13, 1972 |title=Ferry launching is tomorrow |page=A14 |work=The Seattle Times}}{{cite press release |date=April 10, 1972 |title=Jumbo Ferry Launching |publisher=Washington Highways Department}} Both vessels cost $17.7 million to construct.{{cite news |date=September 18, 1972 |title=Indian chief, beauty queen to launch ferry |page=D19 |work=The Seattle Times}}
She made her ceremonial maiden voyage on February 13, 1973, departing from Colman Dock in Seattle carrying Governor Dan Evans, the mayors of Seattle and Spokane, and members of the Spokane tribe.{{cite news |last=Hinterberger |first=John |date=February 14, 1973 |title=A fancy ferry's maiden voyage |page=D4 |work=The Seattle Times}} At {{convert|440|ft|m}} long and with a capacity of 206 cars, the Spokane was the largest ferry in the Washington State Ferries system when she entered service.{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Glen |date=February 9, 1973 |title=That big 'liner' in the Sound is the super-super Spokane |page=B5 |work=The Seattle Times}}
The ferry made her first regular commuter run on the morning of February 24, 1973. Riders onboard complimented the "superferry" on her luxurious look, cleanliness, and handling.{{cite news |last=Johnsurd |first=Bryon |date=February 25, 1973 |title=First regular passengers agree new ferry is super |page=A18 |work=The Seattle Times}}
With the launch of the {{sclass2|Jumbo Mark-II|ferry|0}} ferries {{MV|Tacoma}} and {{MV|Wenatchee}} in 1998, Spokane was moved to the Edmonds–Kingston route alongside {{MV|Puyallup}}.{{cite news |last=Rothgeb |first=Jim |date=November 18, 1997 |title=New ferry: Commuters face the music |url=http://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/1997/11-18/0021_new_ferry__commuters_face_the_mus.html |work=Kitsap Sun |accessdate=September 10, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Ortiz |first=Vikki |date=August 5, 1997 |title=Newest ferry in fleet will be fanciest of all |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}
The ferry was featured in a scene in the film Cinderella Liberty.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|IMO 7214325}}
- [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/VesselDetail.aspx?vessel_id=30 Spokane vessel info from WSDOT]
{{WSF Ferry Classes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spokane, MV}}
Category:Washington State Ferries vessels
Category:Ships built in Seattle
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