Super Class ferry
Encyclopedia
The Super Class ferries are 144-car (originally 160) class ferries operated by Washington State Ferries
. In addition, they can carry up to 2500 passengers.
, as well as to replace the aging Kalakala
. The design of the Super Class Ferry was done in Seattle by W.C. Nickum and Sons, a Naval architectural firm, and the Washington State Ferries. Funding for the Super Class ferry design and construction was made available by the United States Housing and Urban Development agency, and state and federal funds. Once the design was complete, a low bid was accepted by National Steel and Shipbuilding company in San Diego, California, which constructed all four vessels over a period of two years.
. The new 20-knot speed enabled the 16-mile crossing to be made in less than an hour, as opposed to an hour and fifteen minutes on the Kalakala which traveled at a maximum of 12 knots. Second to enter service, on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route was the M/V Kaleetan in 1968. The last two were the Yakima and Elwha, which entered service later that year.
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...
. In addition, they can carry up to 2500 passengers.
History
The Super Class ferry was designed to supplement the Evergreen State Class ferryEvergreen State Class ferry
The Evergreen State Class ferries were built by the Puget Sound Dredge and Bridge Company for Washington State Ferries beginning in 1953. This class was the first built after the state agency was created in 1951...
, as well as to replace the aging Kalakala
Kalakala
The MV Kalakala was a ferry that operated on Puget Sound from 1935 until her retirement in 1967.Kalakala was notable for her unique streamlined superstructure, art deco styling, and luxurious amenities...
. The design of the Super Class Ferry was done in Seattle by W.C. Nickum and Sons, a Naval architectural firm, and the Washington State Ferries. Funding for the Super Class ferry design and construction was made available by the United States Housing and Urban Development agency, and state and federal funds. Once the design was complete, a low bid was accepted by National Steel and Shipbuilding company in San Diego, California, which constructed all four vessels over a period of two years.
Design
The design of the Super Class was to accommodate the rapidly expanding population growth in Puget Sound, especially the Seattle/Bremerton/Bainbridge Island areas. Each vessel was to be rated at 20 knots top speed, which was relatively unheard of in large ferries at the time. All four vessels in the class feature a split-level passenger deck and a vast sun deck with full access via sheltered outdoor stairwells at both ends of the vessel, indoor staircases via both passenger decks, and elevators which were later added to meet ADA requirements. The first ferry to enter service, in 1967, was the M/V Hyak, which replaced the aging Kalakala on the Bremerton/Seattle runSeattle-Bremerton Ferry
The Seattle-Bremerton ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound between Seattle and Bremerton, Washington. 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.-History:The Seattle-Bremerton...
. The new 20-knot speed enabled the 16-mile crossing to be made in less than an hour, as opposed to an hour and fifteen minutes on the Kalakala which traveled at a maximum of 12 knots. Second to enter service, on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route was the M/V Kaleetan in 1968. The last two were the Yakima and Elwha, which entered service later that year.
Ferries
There are four ferries in the Super Class. They are:- Elwha
- Hyak
- Kaleetan
- Yakima