| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Skagit |
| Owner | WSDOT |
| Operator | Washington State Ferries 1990–2009 |
| Port of registry | Seattle, Washington, United States 1989–2011 |
| Builder | Halter Marine, New Orleans, Louisiana[1] |
| Cost | $5 million[2] |
| Completed | 1989 |
| In service | 1990 |
| Out of service | 2009 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sold to Canadian investors after unsuccessful ebay listing[4] |
| Name | Skagit |
| Operator | Seagull Sea Transport (Zanzibar)[1][5] |
| Port of registry | Zanzibar (October 25, 2011–)[5] |
| Route | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania–Unguja Island, Zanzibar |
| Acquired | c. 2011 |
| In service | c. 2011 |
| Out of service | July 18, 2012 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Skagit Kalama-classpassenger ferry |
| Length | 112 ft (34.1 m) |
| Beam | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Draft | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Installed power | Total 2,840 hp (2,120 kW) from fourdiesel engines |
| Propulsion | Diesel Reduction |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Capacity | 250 passengers[6] |
MVSkagit was aSkagit Kalama-class[citation needed]passenger ferry originally operated byWashington State Ferries (WSF) from 1989–2009 and then inTanzania until her sinking inZanzibar in July 2012.
Skagit andMV Kalama were the only two ships of their class in the WSF fleet. Together they served on theSeattle-Vashon Island route (seeKing County Water Taxi).[7] In 2006, WSF was directed to end its passenger-only service, and in 2011Skagit andKalama were sold and transported toTanzania to provide service between the mainland andZanzibar.[8]
On July 18, 2012, the vessel sank nearChumbe Island[9] while in ferry service inTanzania. After departingDar es Salaam bound forUnguja Island (Zanzibar) with more than 250 people on board, the ship struggled in rough seas and sank approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) from Unguja.[1] At least 146 were rescued while as many as 150 were still missing after a day of rescue operations.[4] Early reports attributed the disaster to high winds and overloading of passengers. The ship was certified for a maximum capacity of 250 yet officials said it had 290 aboard at the time.[2][10]
The Zanzibar government blamed the disaster on the ship operating over too long of a distance, and the island's transportation minister resigned.[5] In addition, vessels had been warned not to make the crossing because of the high seas, according to Tanzania's chief meteorologist.[4] AfterSkagit's loss, Zanzibar barredsister ship MVKalama from operating and later "deleted" her and three other ferries from its list of sea vessels for safety reasons.[5][11]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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6°21′59.99″S39°09′59.99″E / 6.3666639°S 39.1666639°E /-6.3666639; 39.1666639
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