Everett Ship Repair has acquired the retired Washington State Ferries (WSF) vessel, Elwha, for $100,000, with plans to repurpose it into a floating office and warehouse space at its shipyard in Everett, Wash. The decommissioned ferry was towed from Bainbridge Island by the Western Towboat Co. tug Mariner on Jan. 30.
Built in the mid-1960s as one of four Super-class ferries, WSF said the 144-car Elwha was a longtime fixture on the Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney, British Columbia route before being retired on April 8, 2020. The vessel, which served millions of passengers over its operational lifetime, is now being repurposed.
In Sept., WSF had put the Elwha back on the market after terminating a sales agreement with buyer Nelson Armas. The decision followed a series of setbacks, including a failed attempt to tow the ferry to Ecuador in August.
According to a WSF press release, converting the Elwha into an office and warehouse space aligns with the Everett Shipyard’s operational needs while extending the useful life of the vessel. Everett Ship Repair is a maintenance partner of WSF, specializing in vessel repair and refit work.
Two other Super-class ferries, the Kaleetan and Yakima, remain in service. WSF is also seeking buyers for two additional retired vessels, Klahowya and Hyak.