The end of the Evergreen State: WSDOT retires oldest ferry boat in the fleet

Published 10:50 am Monday, January 25, 2016

The nation’s largest ferry system has officially retired its oldest vessel, the first boat to be custom-built for Washington State Ferries, after more than 60 years of service.

Built in 1954, the M/V Evergreen State remained active until November 2015, Washington State Department of Transportation officials said during a press conference last week. The 87-car ferry was the largest of its kind on the West Coast when it was built, and originally was put into service on the Seattle to Bainbridge Island route.

It then spent most of its career in the San Jaun Islands, where it was involved in several storied rescues at sea, before returning to Bainbridge and making its final docking at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, where it sits now, awaiting its next adventure.

The Evergreen State is for sale — or it will be soon — WSF spokesman Ian Sterling said, pending the completion of the official vessel retirement procedure. Then it will be placed up for auction through the state’s surplus process.

No early bids have been announced, and there is no minimum price set for the boat.

The Evergreen State is a floating museum of sorts, though history has passed it by in one regard: It’s the only vessel in the fleet which does not have a native tribal-inspired name.

Mike Fagernes, the antique ferry’s chief engineer for the last eight years, said the vessel, which boasts World War II-era surplus drive motors, is still in great shape.

He said its two main engines — dubbed “Nadene” and “Rose” by crew members past — had racked up about 120,000 operating hours.

Officials said that previously sold ferries have gone on to second careers in use in a variety of industries including clam farms and canneries, and some are even in use in Alaskan waters now. Some are also sold as scrap.

“We’ll take all offers,” Fagernes laughed.

Though surplus ferries are generally not highly sought after items, the nearly 70-year-old ferry Rhododendron did reportedly sell for $275,000 in 2013.

The Evergreen State was originally slated for decommissioning last spring, but, like any good classic action movie star, it was then called out of retirement to save the day last summer, sailing back into the rotation while several newer ferries were temporarily sidelined for maintenance and repairs. Bruce Willis, eat your heart out.

WSF Chief of Staff Elizabeth Kosa said that improvements in ferry design and construction made it possible, and responsible, to finally phase out the venerable vessel.

“The recent addition of two modern, larger and faster Olympic Class vessels to the fleet means the Evergreen State is no longer the best solution for moving people and goods across our state’s waters,” Kosa said. “While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, difficulty locating replacement parts and maintaining a vintage vessel are also factors that make it time for E-State to retire.”

Fagernes agreed, though he said that he had personally enjoyed working on the vessel and keeping the history alive.

“They’re fun to keep running,” he said of older craft. “It’s a challenge.

“You could keep this boat running forever,” he added. “But every day we have to be able to get underway, and that gets harder and harder as the boat gets older. So it’s just time to move on.”

Equipment and parts, like life jackets, which can be used by other ferries in the fleet, are being removed and redistributed, Fagernes said. Even the art from the galley walls, nature scenes and landscapes from around the state, is being removed, leaving the storied ship to face the future with empty walls and deserted decks.

For now.