CLASS: Issaquah

BUILT/ REBUILT: 1980/1992, Marine Power & Equipment/Lake Union Dry Dock, Seattle, WA

OFFICIAL NUMBER: 630023 CALL SIGN: WYR3421

L/B/D: 328 x 79 x 17 GROSS/NET TONS: 2475/1755 PASSENGERS/AUTOS: 1200/124

PROPULSION:  2 GE 7 FDM-12 diesels, variable pitch propellers, 5000 HP   SPEED: 16 knots

NAME TRANSLATION: Named for Chief Kitsap and the first ferry with that name

FINAL DISPOSITION: In service, 2024.

HISTORY

The Kitsap probably boasts the most notorious event in the Issaquah Class history that actually wasn’t mechanical in nature:  a full-fledged riot on board that resulted in some $40,000.00 in damages after some punk rockers got out of hand returning from a concert in Bremerton.

Aside from the riot, the other most notable event for the Kitsap was in 1991. Sailing through Rich Passage in heavy fog, she managed to bang into her sister ferry Sealth. Five years later she went aground in nearly the same spot.

Even with these colorful incidents, the Kitsap has led a relatively sedate life, delivering thousands of passengers to their destinations safely and without mishap.

In early ’00 the ferry went to the Lake Union Dry Dock company to have the main reduction gears replaced and to have the interior redone. She came back to the Bremerton run in July of ’00, looking like a new vessel.

The Kitsap was generally a relief vessel, sitting in for whatever Issaquah Class ferry is out for maintenance. When not filling in for another Issaquah, the ferry was usually assigned to the Bremerton route.

With the addition of the Olympic Class ferries, the Kitsap had been spending more and more time at Vashon Island.  She was scheduled to be permanently assigned there starting in 2019, but instead her sister Kittitas was attached to the “Triangle Route” and was joined by her sister Cathlamet, keeping the two former Mukilteo boats together with the Issaquah as the third boat.

The Kitsap retains her relief status as of 2024.