# MV Tacoma

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Ship built in 1997

MV Tacoma approaching Bainbridge History Name Tacoma Owner Washington State Department of Transportation Operator Washington State Ferries Port of registry Seattle, Washington Route Seattle–Bainbridge Island Builder Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington Cost $80 million[1] Launched August 29, 1996 Acquired August 18, 1997 Maiden voyage October 17, 1997 In service October 17, 1997 Identification IMO number: 9133977 MMSI number: 366772760 Callsign: WCX9244 Status In service Notes Out of service between July 29, 2014 and March 27, 2015 due to catastrophic failure of electrical system. General characteristics Class & type Jumbo Mark-II-class auto/passenger ferry Length 460 ft 2 in (140.3 m) Beam 90 ft (27.4 m) Draft 17 ft 3 in (5.3 m) Deck clearance 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) Installed power Total 16,000 hp (12,000 kW) from 4 x EMD 16-710G Diesel-Electric engines Speed 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) Capacity 2,500 passengers 202 vehicles (max 60 commercial)

**MV *Tacoma*** is a [Jumbo Mark-II-class](/source/Jumbo_Mark-II-class_ferry) [ferry](/source/Ferry) operated by [Washington State Ferries](/source/Washington_State_Ferries). Launched in 1997, it was the first in its class in the Washington State Ferries fleet. Since delivery, the *Tacoma* has almost exclusively been assigned to the busy [Seattle–Bainbridge Island](/source/Seattle%E2%80%93Bainbridge_ferry) route.

The *Tacoma* and its sister ship, the [MV *Wenatchee*](/source/MV_Wenatchee), suffered from excessive vibration during their early period of operation, until it was repaired during routine maintenance in 1999. The issue was addressed in the final Jumbo Mark II ferry, the [MV *Puyallup*](/source/MV_Puyallup), before it launched.[1]

## Electrical failure

On July 29, 2014, the vessel suffered a catastrophic electrical failure, in which most of the ship's electrical system was destroyed. The *Tacoma* lost power in Bainbridge Island's Eagle Harbor and dropped anchor to prevent her from beaching making it the "second time in 40 years that a state ferry was forced to drop anchor."[2] The [MV *Sealth*](/source/MV_Sealth), which was serving the [Seattle-Bremerton](/source/Seattle-Bremerton_ferry) route at the time, made a detour up to Eagle Harbor to tow the *Tacoma* away from shore until tugboats could guide her back to the slip. The *Tacoma* remained out of service for nearly nine months while repairs were made. After four weeks of sea trials and approval from the [United States Coast Guard](/source/United_States_Coast_Guard), the *Tacoma* returned to service on the Seattle-Bainbridge route on March 28, 2015.[3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vibration_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vibration_1-1) Nalder, Eric (March 5, 1999). ["Giant New Ferries Experience Bad Vibrations -- $52,000 Per Ship To Remove Shaking 'As Bad As The Old Kalakala'"](https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990305/2947676/giant-new-ferries-experience-bad-vibrations----52000-per-ship-to-remove-shaking-as-bad-as-the-old-kalakala). *The Seattle Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kelly, Brian (August 1, 2014). ["UPDATE: Dead in the water: Ferry Tacoma strands hundreds due to power loss during sailing"](http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/update-dead-in-the-water-ferry-tacoma-strands-hundreds-due-to-power-loss-during-sailing/). *The Bainbridge Island Review*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The jumbo ferry MV Tacoma returns to work"](http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-jumbo-ferry-mv-tacoma-returns-to-work/). *Seattle Times*. April 3, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2016.

## External links

- Media related to [IMO 9133977](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:IMO_9133977) at Wikimedia Commons

- [MV Tacoma vessel info from WSDOT](http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/VesselDetail.aspx?vessel_id=32)

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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