# MV Rhododendron > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MV_Rhododendron > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MV_Rhododendron.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Rhododendron > Source revision: 1327494920 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) MV Rhododendron arriving at Tahlequah Ferry Terminal History Name 1947-1951: Gov. Herbert R. O'Conner 1951-present: MV Rhododendron Owner 1947-1951: Chesapeake Bay Ferry System 1951-2013: WSDOT 2013-present: Atlantic Capes Fisheries[1] Operator 1947-1951: Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company 1951-2012: Washington State Ferries Port of registry 1951-present: Seattle, Washington, United States Builder Maryland Drydock Company, Baltimore Completed 1947 Refit: 1990 Out of service January 23, 2012 Identification IMO number: 8836118 MMSI number: 366772790 Callsign: WB6079[2] Official Number: 2516446 Status Retired General characteristics Class & type Rhododendron-class auto/passenger ferry Tonnage 937 Length 227 ft 6 in (69.3 m) Beam 62 ft (18.9 m) Draft 10 ft (3.0 m) Deck clearance 13 ft 6 in (4.1 m) Installed power 2,172 hp Propulsion 2 Diesel engines Speed 11 kn (20 km/h) Capacity 546 passengers 48 vehicles (max 15 commercial)[3] The **Motor Vessel *Rhododendron*** was the sole *Rhododendron*-class ferry operated by [Washington State Ferries](/source/Washington_State_Ferries). She was named for the [state flower](/source/State_flower) of [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)), the [rhododendron](/source/Rhododendron). She was referred to affectionately as "The Rhody" by residents of [Vashon Island](/source/Vashon%2C_Washington). The *Rhododendron* was one of two similar [Chesapeake Bay](/source/Chesapeake_Bay) ferries that were purchased to become part of the WSF fleet in the 1950s; the other being the now-retired [MV *Olympic*](/source/MV_Olympic). The *Rhododendron'*s former name was the MV *Governor Herbert R. O'Conor*. She was originally purchased to be used in the interim while other new ferries were being built. The ferry was retired in January 2012 and was sold in February 2013.[1] It is currently anchored in [Fanny Bay](/source/Fanny_Bay), [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia), where it serves as a storage and operations platform for nearby oyster farming. ## Career *Rhododendron*, circa 1955 Her original use in Washington from 1953 to 1961 was on a route from the [Olympic Peninsula](/source/Olympic_Peninsula) to the [Kitsap Peninsula](/source/Kitsap_Peninsula), near the current site of the [Hood Canal Bridge](/source/Hood_Canal_Bridge). Her service there ended when the Hood Canal Bridge was built.[2] At that time, she was reunited with the *Olympic* and reassigned to the [Mukilteo](/source/Mukilteo%2C_Washington)-[Clinton](/source/Clinton%2C_Washington) route, where she stayed until 1974.[2] In 1975, [Washington State Ferries](/source/Washington_State_Ferries) (WSF) acquired the [Port Townsend](/source/Port_Townsend%2C_Washington) to [Keystone](/source/Keystone%2C_Island_County%2C_Washington) route from a private company and reassigned the *Rhododendron* and the *Olympic* to this route.[2] In 1983, the *Rhododendron* was mothballed and stored at the WSF maintenance facility at Eagle Harbor. In 1990, the ferry was completely reconditioned, with its rotted superstructure completely replaced.[2] Due to her construction, she was not permitted to operate more than one mile (1.6 km) from shore. Consequently, in 1993 she was assigned to the [Point Defiance](/source/Point_Defiance_Park) to [Vashon Island](/source/Vashon%2C_Washington) route, a 12-minute trip that is a total of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. For a short time in 2008 the *Rhododendron* was leased to Pierce County for service to [Anderson Island](/source/Anderson_Island_(Washington)).[2] The *Rhody* remained on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route until she was retired in 2012. Her final scheduled sailing was at 2:10 pm on January 23, 2012, after which she was replaced by the [MV *Chetzemoka*](/source/MV_Chetzemoka). The state attempted to sell the ship in an [online auction](/source/Online_auction) in November 2012, but the [US$](/source/United_States_dollar)300,000 winning bid was later withdrawn.[4] On February 26, 2013, the *Rhody* was sold for $275,000 to Island Scallops, who operates scallop farms on Vancouver Island near [Qualicum Beach](/source/Qualicum_Beach), British Columbia and is a subsidiary of [Atlantic Capes Fisheries](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlantic_Capes_Fisheries&action=edit&redlink=1). Island Scallops plans to use the ferry as a support vessel based in Fanny Bay, BC and will remove her engines.[1][5] On March 11, 2013, the *Rhododendron* left Eagle Harbor (slip 1) for the last time, arriving in Fanny Bay on the following day. ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Rhody_sold_2013-Kitsap_Sun_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Rhody_sold_2013-Kitsap_Sun_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Rhody_sold_2013-Kitsap_Sun_1-2) Friedrich, Ed (27 February 2013). ["Scallop-farming company buys 66-year-old ferry Rhododendron"](http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/27/scallop-farming-company-buys-66-year-old-ferry/#ixzz2M9lKij6S). *Kitsap Sun*. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-evergreen_fleet_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-evergreen_fleet_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-evergreen_fleet_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-evergreen_fleet_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-evergreen_fleet_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-evergreen_fleet_2-5) [Rhododendron - The Ferry of the State Flower](http://www.evergreenfleet.com/rhody.html), evergreenfleet.com 1. **[^](#cite_ref-vessel_info_3-0)** [M/V *Rhododendron*](https://web.archive.org/web/20121012141521/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/VesselDetail.aspx?vessel_id=27), Washington State Ferries. Archived from [the original](http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/VesselDetail.aspx?vessel_id=27) on 12 October 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Classic old state ferry not sold after all"](http://komonews.com/news/local/classic-old-state-ferry-not-sold-after-all). KOMO News. AP. December 1, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Rhody_sold_2013-KMAS_5-0)** KMAS News (28 February 2013). ["Regional Stories Feb. 28"](http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/51052-regional-stories-feb-28). *Mason County Daily News*. Retrieved 4 March 2013.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MV Rhododendron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Rhododendron) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Rhododendron?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.