# MV Olympic

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Former ferry used on Puget Sound

Olympic beached off Ketron Island, 2024 History Name Governor Harry W. Nice Operator Claiborne–Annapolis Ferry Company Route Chesapeake Bay Builder Maryland Drydock Company Launched December 11, 1937 In service 1938 Name Olympic Owner Washington State Department of Transportation Route Various Puget Sound routes Acquired 1951 In service 1954 Out of service 1993 Status Abandoned off Ketron Island General characteristics Type Auto/passenger ferry Length 206 ft (63 m) Capacity About 600 passengers, 50 cars

**MV *Olympic*** (also known as *Olympic II*) is a former [automobile ferry](/source/Ferry) that operated in [Maryland](/source/Maryland) and [Washington state](/source/Washington_(state)). Originally named the MV *Gov. Harry W. Nice*, it was built for the [Claiborne–Annapolis Ferry Company](/source/Claiborne%E2%80%93Annapolis_Ferry_Company) on [Chesapeake Bay](/source/Chesapeake_Bay) in Maryland and operated there from 1937 to 1952. The ferry was then sold to the [Washington State Ferries](/source/Washington_State_Ferries) system and rechristened as the *Olympic*, named for the [Olympic Mountains](/source/Olympic_Mountains), and served various route until 1993. *Olympic* was sold in 1997 and has been beached on [Ketron Island](/source/Ketron_Island) since 2010.

## Service

### *Governor Harry W. Nice*

The vessel operating in Maryland

The vessel was launched on December 11, 1937, at the [Maryland Drydock Company](/source/Maryland_Drydock_Company) and entered service as the motor ferry *Governor Harry W. Nice* on the [Chesapeake Bay](/source/Chesapeake_Bay), operating for the [Claiborne–Annapolis Ferry Company](/source/Claiborne%E2%80%93Annapolis_Ferry_Company).[1]

Following the opening of the [Chesapeake Bay Bridge](/source/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge) in 1952, Maryland's transbay ferry operations ended and the vessels were sold.[1]

### Washington State Ferries

[Washington State Ferries](/source/Washington_State_Ferries) (WSF) acquired the vessel, renamed it *Olympic*, and placed it into service in 1954. The ferry operated on several [Puget Sound](/source/Puget_Sound) routes as a single-engine automobile ferry with a capacity of approximately 600 passengers and 50 vehicles.[2][3] *Olympic* was retired from service in 1993.[4]

In 1997, the state declared *Olympic* surplus and sold it at auction to [Bainbridge Island](/source/Bainbridge_Island) resident Darrell McNabb for $71,000.[2][3] McNabb proposed rehabilitating the vessel for reuse and kept *Olympic* moored in [Eagle Harbor](/source/Eagle_Harbor_(Washington)). He later offered the ferry for sale and donated it to the Pacific Maritime Foundation for resale. The vessel was listed for sale on [eBay](/source/EBay) in 2009[5] and on the foundation's website but remained moored in Eagle Harbor.[3][6]

## Abandonment

In May 2010, *Olympic* was purchased by Tom Palmer and towed south for relocation and potential reuse. During the transit, the ferry ran aground along the shoreline off [Ketron Island](/source/Ketron_Island). The vessel later broke free from its initial grounding during a windstorm and shifted position, prompting responses and investigations by authorities concerning shoreline impacts, navigational safety, and the condition of its moorings.[3]

The ferry has remained beached since 2010. Its size has complicated removal efforts, and because the vessel rests on private property, legal authority and access have further limited the ability of public agencies. [Pierce County](/source/Pierce_County%2C_Washington) declared the former ferry a "public nuisance"; however, efforts to require removal or disposal have failed, and the vessel continues to deteriorate in place.[6][7]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MSA_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MSA_1-1) ["Boats Across the Bay"](https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagser/s1800/s1883/000000/000012/pdf/msa_s1883_000012.pdf) (PDF). *Directions*. Vol. 1, no. 11. [Maryland Department of Transportation](/source/Maryland_Department_of_Transportation). July 1973. pp. 8–9. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WASOS_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WASOS_2-1) ["From the Archives: ferries from yesteryear"](https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/from-our-corner/general/archives-ferries-yesteryear). [Washington Secretary of State](/source/Washington_Secretary_of_State). June 27, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BR_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BR_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BR_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-BR_3-3) ["Historic ferry taken off Bainbridge Island"](https://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/historic-ferry-taken-off-bainbridge-island/). *[Bainbridge Island Review](/source/Bainbridge_Island_Review)*. May 27, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Broom, Jack (March 19, 1997). "Retired ferry Olympic put on auction block". *[The Seattle Times](/source/The_Seattle_Times)*. p. A1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Lawrence, Blythe (June 25, 2009). ["Seattle foundation puts ferry up for sale on eBay"](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-foundation-puts-ferry-up-for-sale-on-ebay/). *The Seattle Times*. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IW_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IW_6-1) Ford, Aspen (August 14, 2025). ["Washington ferries are going hybrid-electric, but disposal of old ones poses environmental, legal risks"](https://www.investigatewest.org/washington-ferries-are-going-hybrid-electric-but-disposal-of-old-ones-poses-environmental-legal-risks/). *[InvestigateWest](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=InvestigateWest&action=edit&redlink=1)*. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SR_7-0)** Banse, Tom (November 24, 2025). ["For sale: Two retired state ferries. Dreamers need not apply"](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/nov/24/for-sale-two-retired-state-ferries-dreamers-need-n/). *[The Spokesman-Review](/source/The_Spokesman-Review)*. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

## External links

- Media related to [Olympic (ship, 1938)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Olympic_(ship,_1938)) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Washington State Ferries Routes Anacortes–San Juan Islands Edmonds–Kingston Fauntleroy–Vashon–Southworth Mukilteo–Clinton Point Defiance–Tahlequah Port Townsend–Coupeville Seattle–Bainbridge Island Seattle–Bremerton Terminals Colman Dock (Seattle) Other Public art Current fleet Evergreen State class MV Tillikum Super class MV Kaleetan MV Yakima Jumbo class MV Spokane MV Walla Walla Issaquah class MV Issaquah MV Kittitas MV Kitsap MV Cathlamet MV Chelan MV Sealth Jumbo Mark-II class MV Tacoma MV Wenatchee MV Puyallup Kwa-di Tabil class MV Chetzemoka MV Salish MV Kennewick Olympic class MV Tokitae MV Samish MV Chimacum MV Suquamish MV Wishkah (future) Retired fleet Wood Electric class MV Chetzemoka (1927) MV Kehloken MV Klahanie Steel Electric class MV Enetai MV Illahee MV Klickitat MV Nisqually MV Quinault MV Willapa Evergreen State class MV Evergreen State MV Klahowya Super class MV Hyak MV Elwha Skagit Kalama class MV Kalama MV Skagit Passenger-Only Fast Ferry class MV Chinook MV Snohomish No class MV Chippewa MV Crosline MV Hiyu MV Kalakala MV Kitsap (1925) MV Kulshan MV Leschi MV Olympic MV Rhododendron MV Rosario SS San Mateo SS Shasta MV Skansonia MV Tyee MV Vashon

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MV Olympic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Olympic) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Olympic?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.