{{Short description|1998 Washington state ferry}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = WA Ferries MV Wenatchee.jpg | image_caption = MV ''Wenatchee'' departing Bainbridge maintenance facility in 2025 }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | name = ''Wenatchee'' | owner = [[Washington State Department of Transportation]] | operator = [[Washington State Ferries]] | registry = [[Seattle, Washington]] | route = [[Seattle–Bainbridge ferry|Seattle–Bainbridge Island]] | ordered = | builder = [[Todd Pacific Shipyards]], [[Seattle]], Washington | original_cost = $80 million<ref name="vibration" /> | yard_number = | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = | completed = 1998 | christened = | acquired = | maiden_voyage = | in_service = | out_of_service = | identification = *{{IMO Number|9137351}} *{{MMSI Number|366749710}} *[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: WCY3378 | fate = | status = In Service | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = {{sclass2|Jumbo Mark-II|ferry|0}} [[Ferry|auto/passenger ferry]] | tonnage = | displacement = {{convert|6184|lt|t|lk=in}} | length = {{convert|460|ft|2|in|1|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|90|ft|1|abbr=on}} | height = | draught = | draft = {{convert|17|ft|3|in|1|abbr=on}} | depth = | decks = 5 (2 vehicle decks, passenger deck, sun deck, nav bridge deck) | deck_clearance = {{convert|15|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}} | ramps = | ice_class = | sail_plan = | power = {{convert|16000|hp|abbr=on}} total from two [[EMD 710]] V-16 diesel engine GenSets | propulsion = [[Hybrid ferry|Diesel–electric hybrid]] | speed = *{{convert|18|kn|0|lk=in}} (service, using two engines) *{{convert|25|kn|0}} (maximum, using four engines) | capacity = *2,499 passengers *202 vehicles (max 60 tall vehicles) | crew = | notes = }} }}
'''MV ''Wenatchee''''' is a {{sclass2|Jumbo Mark-II|ferry}} operated by [[Washington State Ferries]]. Launched in 1998, she was the second in her class in the fleet following the {{MV|Tacoma}}. Since delivery, the ''Wenatchee'' has almost exclusively been assigned to the busy [[Seattle–Bainbridge ferry|Seattle–Bainbridge Island]] route alongside the ''Tacoma''.
[[File:MV Wenatchee arriving in Seattle.webm|left|thumb|MV ''Wenatchee'' docking at Colman Dock in Seattle]]
The ''Wenatchee'' and her older sister ship, the ''Tacoma'', suffered from excessive vibration during their early period of operation, until she was repaired during routine maintenance in 1999. The issue was addressed in the final Jumbo Mark-II ferry, the {{MV|Puyallup}}, before she launched.<ref name="vibration">{{cite news |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990305&slug=2947676 |title=Giant New Ferries Experience Bad Vibrations -- $52,000 Per Ship To Remove Shaking 'As Bad As The Old Kalakala' |first=Eric |last=Nalder |newspaper=[[Seattle Times]]|date=March 5, 1999}}</ref>
The Jumbo Mark-II fleet is planned to be converted to diesel-electric [[hybrid electric vehicle|hybrid]] beginning in 2023. The conversion was part of a state-mandated reduction in [[greenhouse gas emissions]] and was funded by part of a settlement from the [[Volkswagen emissions scandal]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Giordano |first=Lizz |date=November 4, 2019 |title=Washington State Ferries plans for an electric-hybrid fleet |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/washington-state-ferries-aiming-for-a-fleet-energy-sea-change/ |work=[[The Everett Herald]] |accessdate=May 7, 2020}}</ref> The ''Wenatchee'' is the first of the fleet to undergo conversion, which began in September 2023 and was scheduled to take one year to complete.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Washington awards $150M contract to convert ferries to hybrid-electric power |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2023/08/16/wsf-will-pay-150-million-for-hybrid-election-ferry-conversions/70603378007/ |work=[[Kitsap Sun]] |accessdate=August 16, 2023}}</ref> Due to differences between the blueprints and the boat's condition, as well as other issues, the conversion's completion was delayed to mid-2025.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deshais |first=Nicholas |date=September 26, 2024 |title=Electric conversion of WA ferry delayed a year, and the cost is rising |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/electric-conversion-of-wa-ferry-delayed-a-year-and-the-cost-is-rising/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 26, 2024}}</ref>
In April 2021, during [[sea trials]] following engine overhauls, the vessel suffered an engine fire and lost power, which led to an ongoing investigation by the [[United States Coast Guard]] and the [[National Transportation Safety Board]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Pilling |first=Nathan |date=April 26, 2021 |title=Washington State Ferries, Coast Guard, NTSB investigating fire on ferry Wenatchee |url=https://eu.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2021/04/26/coast-guard-ntsb-join-investigation-into-fire-ferry-wenatchee/7387806002/ |work=[[Kitsap Sun]]|location= |access-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref>
The conversion to a hybrid system was completed in July 2025 at a total cost of $133 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deshais |first=Nicholas |date=July 10, 2025 |title=WA's first electrified ferry sails, with 2 governors on board |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/was-first-electrified-ferry-sails-with-2-governors-on-board/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 19, 2025}}</ref> She returned to service on the Bainbridge Island–Seattle route on July 18, becoming the first hybrid electric vessel to enter the Washington State Ferries fleet.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pomasl |first=Taylor |date=July 10, 2025 |title=New hybrid-electric ferry transforms Puget Sound travel |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/infrastructure/wenatchee-makes-waves-hybrid-electric-conversion/281-5ff9ac06-e893-4ab5-957b-144bb113b520 |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=July 19, 2025}}</ref> A month later, the ''Wenatchee'' was removed from service after two of its four drive motors temporarily went offline on arrival at [[Colman Dock]] in Seattle, creating a momentary power outage. She was moved to WSF's Eagle Harbor maintenance facility and was found to have issues with the control system's communication wires that caused intermittent stability.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deshais |first=Nicholas |date=August 19, 2025 |title=A month after hybrid-electric conversion, ferry pulled from service |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/a-month-after-hybrid-electric-conversion-ferry-pulled-from-service/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>Washington goes hybrid ''[[Ships Monthly]]'' September 2025 page 8</ref>
==Incidents== In 2000, during a particularly low tide, she touched bottom while rounding Tyee Shoal at the entrance of Bainbridge Island's Eagle Harbor, resulting in minor keel and propeller damage. On August 30, 2009, she had a collision with the slip at [[Colman Dock]] in Seattle. There was heavy fog at the time and the vessel and slip were out of service for four days.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{commons category-inline|IMO 9137351}} *[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/VesselDetail.aspx?vessel_id=37 MV Wenatchee vessel info from WSDOT]
{{WSF Ferry Classes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wenatchee, MV}} [[Category:Washington State Ferries vessels]] [[Category:1998 ships]] [[Category:Ships built in Seattle]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in 2021]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in 2000]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in 2009]] {{ferry-stub}}