Career MV Rhododendron

rhododendron, circa 1955

her original use in washington 1953 1961 on route olympic peninsula kitsap peninsula, near current site of hood canal bridge. service there ended when hood canal bridge built.

at time, reunited olympic , reassigned mukilteo-clinton route, stayed until 1974.

in 1975, washington state ferries (wsf) acquired port townsend keystone route private company , reassigned rhododendron , olympic route.

in 1983, rhododendron mothballed , stored @ wsf maintenance facility @ eagle harbor. in 1990, ferry reconditioned, rotted superstructure replaced.

due construction, not permitted operate more 1 mile (1.6 km) shore. consequently, in 1993 assigned point defiance vashon island route, 12-minute trip total of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. short time in 2008 rhododendron leased pierce county service anderson island.

the rhody remained on point defiance-tahlequah route until retired in 2012. final scheduled sailing @ 2:10 pm on january 23, 2012, after replaced mv chetzemoka.

the state attempted sell ship in online auction in november 2012, us$300,000 winning bid later withdrawn. on february 26, 2013, rhody sold $275,000 island scallops, operates scallop farms on vancouver island near qualicum beach, british columbia , subsidiary of atlantic capes fisheries. island scallops plans use ferry support vessel based in fanny bay, bc , remove engines.

on march 11, 2013, rhododendron left eagle harbor (slip 1) last time, arriving in fanny bay on following day.