MV Governor
Encyclopedia
The MV Governor is a passenger ferry
that operates in Massachusetts
. She was formerly the MV Crown City between 1954 and 1970, and the MV Kulshan
between 1970 and 1982.
Currently operated by the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA), she was built in 1954 to operate the ferry service from San Diego to Coronado, California
. After the San Diego-Coronado Bridge
was built, spanning her original route, she was sold to Washington State Ferries
where she was christened the MV Kulshan
and served in Puget Sound
waters from 1970 to 1982. Along with the distinction of being the most despised ferry in the WSF
fleet, the Kulshan
was featured as the ferry ridden by Lisa Blount
and Debra Winger
in the 1982 film, An Officer and a Gentleman
.
After her stint with the Washington State Ferries
system, the Kulshan
was declared surplus to requirements and sold to the United States Coast Guard
to provide service for their large Atlantic Area headquarters base on Governors Island
in New York Harbor
, an island community and workplace for 5000 people. The ferry was towed south and through the Panama Canal
in making its way to the east coast. Once in New York City, the ferry was renamed Governor and as part of a fleet of two other ferries, the Samuel L. Coursen and the Minue, shuttled passengers and vehicles from the Battery Maritime Building
in Lower Manhattan to Governors Island.
The closure Governors Island
Coast Guard basein 1996 made her surplus for a third time whereupon she was purchased by SSA in 1998. The “double-ended” Governor is the longest and widest vessel in the SSA fleet at 242’x 65’ and the only vessel with diesel-electric
propulsion. Three Caterpillar
diesel engines power two electric propulsion motors giving her a speed of 12 kn (14.6 mph).
In October 2007, the MV Governor was involved in a minor collision with the ferry MV Island Home
as Governor was beginning a hazardous cargo trip to the Vineyard. No passengers were on board or injured in the incident. Coast Guard marine safety inspectors examined both ships and permitted the Island Home to return to service about one hour after her scheduled departure time with only a dent in the hull, above the waterline. The MV Governor required slightly more repair, but was back in service by the end of the day. Petty Officer Lauren Downs of the Coast Guard stated "Results of standard drug and alcohol tests on Governor's crew, after the accident, were negative".
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
that operates in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. She was formerly the MV Crown City between 1954 and 1970, and the MV Kulshan
MV Kulshan
The MV Kulshan was a passenger ferry operated by the Washington State ferry system on Puget Sound from 1970 to 1982.-Beginnings:The Kulshan started her maritime career as the MV Crown City in Oakland, California in 1954...
between 1970 and 1982.
Currently operated by the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA), she was built in 1954 to operate the ferry service from San Diego to Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
. After the San Diego-Coronado Bridge
San Diego-Coronado Bridge
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge, locally referred to as the Coronado Bridge, is a "prestressed concrete/steel" girder bridge, crossing over San Diego Bay in the United States, linking San Diego with Coronado, California...
was built, spanning her original route, she was sold to Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
where she was christened the MV Kulshan
MV Kulshan
The MV Kulshan was a passenger ferry operated by the Washington State ferry system on Puget Sound from 1970 to 1982.-Beginnings:The Kulshan started her maritime career as the MV Crown City in Oakland, California in 1954...
and served in Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
waters from 1970 to 1982. Along with the distinction of being the most despised ferry in the WSF
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
fleet, the Kulshan
MV Kulshan
The MV Kulshan was a passenger ferry operated by the Washington State ferry system on Puget Sound from 1970 to 1982.-Beginnings:The Kulshan started her maritime career as the MV Crown City in Oakland, California in 1954...
was featured as the ferry ridden by Lisa Blount
Lisa Blount
Lisa S. Blount was an American film and television actress and Oscar-winning producer.-Career:...
and Debra Winger
Debra Winger
Mary Debra Winger is an American actress. Three-times an Oscar nominee, she received awards for acting in Terms of Endearment, for which she won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in 1983, and in A Dangerous Woman, for which she won the Tokyo International Film Festival...
in the 1982 film, An Officer and a Gentleman
An Officer and a Gentleman
A Officer and a Gentleman is a 1982 American drama film that tells the story of a U.S. Navy aviation officer candidate who comes into conflict with the Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who trains him. It was written by Douglas Day Stewart and directed by Taylor Hackford...
.
After her stint with the Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
system, the Kulshan
MV Kulshan
The MV Kulshan was a passenger ferry operated by the Washington State ferry system on Puget Sound from 1970 to 1982.-Beginnings:The Kulshan started her maritime career as the MV Crown City in Oakland, California in 1954...
was declared surplus to requirements and sold to the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
to provide service for their large Atlantic Area headquarters base on Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
in New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
, an island community and workplace for 5000 people. The ferry was towed south and through the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
in making its way to the east coast. Once in New York City, the ferry was renamed Governor and as part of a fleet of two other ferries, the Samuel L. Coursen and the Minue, shuttled passengers and vehicles from the Battery Maritime Building
Battery Maritime Building
The Battery Maritime Building is a ferry terminal at 10 South Street at the corner of South and Whitehall Streets near South Ferry at the tip of Manhattan...
in Lower Manhattan to Governors Island.
The closure Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
Coast Guard basein 1996 made her surplus for a third time whereupon she was purchased by SSA in 1998. The “double-ended” Governor is the longest and widest vessel in the SSA fleet at 242’x 65’ and the only vessel with diesel-electric
Diesel-electric
Diesel-electric transmission or diesel-electric powertrain is used by a number of vehicle and ship types for providing locomotion.A diesel-electric transmission system includes a diesel engine connected to an electrical generator, creating electricity that powers electric traction motors...
propulsion. Three Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
diesel engines power two electric propulsion motors giving her a speed of 12 kn (14.6 mph).
In October 2007, the MV Governor was involved in a minor collision with the ferry MV Island Home
MV Island Home
The MV Island Home is a ferry built by Vt Halter Marine in 2005 for The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority it is the replacement for the ....
as Governor was beginning a hazardous cargo trip to the Vineyard. No passengers were on board or injured in the incident. Coast Guard marine safety inspectors examined both ships and permitted the Island Home to return to service about one hour after her scheduled departure time with only a dent in the hull, above the waterline. The MV Governor required slightly more repair, but was back in service by the end of the day. Petty Officer Lauren Downs of the Coast Guard stated "Results of standard drug and alcohol tests on Governor's crew, after the accident, were negative".