Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,095
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Post by Neil on Jun 13, 2007 15:17:17 GMT -8
I think I read somewhere that the Mill Bay held the record for longest continuous operation on the same ferry route in North America, but this little craft that crosses the Columbia River in eastern Washington beats the Mill Bay's start date of 1956 by eight years. 59 years on the same route (with some changes in actual loading spots due to river fluctuations)... quite remarkable.  It's state operated, and more info is found at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/Eastern/KellerFerry/ |
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Post by SS Shasta on Oct 9, 2009 11:06:47 GMT -8
Looks like another DOT vessel is down and out with a leaky hull. The MV Martha S, better known as the Keller Ferry has been removed from service and the route shut down until repairs are completed: www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2009/10/09_kellerFerry.htmDoes anyone have a photo or two of the MV Martha S in service? She must be an old timer dating back to the 1940's. |
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Post by SS Shasta on Oct 9, 2009 11:34:28 GMT -8
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Post by SS San Mateo on Oct 9, 2009 11:35:02 GMT -8
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Post by whidbeyislandguy on Oct 9, 2009 12:12:24 GMT -8
Umm yes this was posted back in jan.  ferriesbc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=nwf&action=display&thread=2081&page=4Something I found kind of funny. Looks like Washington State MIGHT be building another ferry after-all, just not quite what we had in mind.    SR 21 - Keller Ferry Replacement Project Facts Current vessel in service since 1948 New vessel would be more reliable Safer for users and operators Project Status Winter 2009 Design work on a replacement vessel is complete. The project office team is now designing the vehicle terminals. This project includes the design and construction of a replacement ferry boat and associated vehicles loading terminals. Why is WSDOT replacing the existing Keller Ferry vessel? The current vessel, the Martha S., has been in service on this route since 1948. Replacement parts are no longer being commercially manufactured, they now must be custom-made as needed. The vessel has a limited capacity, especially when large trucks are on board. The End Result A more reliable vessel with enhanced passenger amenities. Project Benefits Reduced service interruptions and increased safety for ferry users. What is the project timeline? The new vessel and terminals are now being designed. Vessel construction is dependent on additional funding. Public Involvement Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. If you have any questions or concerns about this project please contact the project engineer listed below or Al Gilson, WSDOT Public Information Officer. Environmental Protection As preliminary designs are refined, any new environmental issues will be evaluated and appropriate mitigation developed. Please visit the WSDOT Environmental Services Web site for more information. Increasing safety is one of our priorities Improved vessel reliability and modern design will enhance safety for users and operators. Will this project impact tribal resources? At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan. Financial Information This project is funded through the following sources: •State Gas Tax- $217,000 • Federal Funds - $10,783,000 • Total Funding Available from all sources - $11 Million. • UnFunded Amount - $5.5 million (est.) How can I get more information? Contact: Ken Olson, Project Engineer 2714 N. Mayfair Spokane, WA 99207 (509) 324-6140 Email: olsonk@wsdot.wa.gov |
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Post by DENelson83 on Oct 9, 2009 18:47:49 GMT -8
I've ridden on the Martha S., back in 1990. Smallest ferry I've ever been on.
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Post by SS Shasta on Oct 20, 2009 12:58:49 GMT -8
Here are some interesting DOT photos of the history of the Keller Ferry, including the MV Martha S. Please note that the last photo shows the Martha S "in drydock" at Grand Coulee Dam in 2002. MV Martha S must hold the record for Washington's oldest continually operating ferry vessel under state ownership. It dates back to 1948. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR21/KellerFerry/HistoricalPhotos.htm |
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Post by SS Shasta on Oct 27, 2009 16:54:56 GMT -8
The good news is the MV Martha S has returned to service as of 19 October. Hull repairs have been completed according to DOT and the ferry has passed its Coast Guard inspection BUT the crisis isn't over yet. She will be removed from service again on 28 October for engine replacement  . That should take about a half day according to DOT. |
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Jody
Chief Steward
Ferry Foamer
Posts: 152
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Post by Jody on Dec 12, 2009 16:26:14 GMT -8
I've ridden on the Martha S., back in 1990. Smallest ferry I've ever been on. DE - make a run down to Albany, OR and take the short jaunt on the M/V Buena Vista, probably one of the tiniest ferries I've ever seen. Four (count 'em, four!) cars total capacity. I spent a little time in Corvallis earlier this year, and she was a favorite target for me. I was also fortunate enough to ride her several times. The boat is also the oldest of the three in Oregon, built in 1955. A good friend of mine grew up in Albany and has memories of riding the ferry as a child 30+ years ago. After getting funding earlier this year, efforts are underway to build a replacement. No word yet on when it will enter service, but it's likely that the existing boat will run at least the first part of next season. Jody - gotta ride the Martha S, and soon! Attachments:
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Post by Steve Rosenow on Apr 9, 2011 0:01:39 GMT -8
Looks like the Keller Ferry's OOS for a bit. Keller Ferry out of service on SR 21 near Wilbur WILBUR – The Keller Ferry on SR 21 is currently out of service due to problems with the north shore vehicle loading ramp and dock. The ferry itself is operational, but without a loading ramp, vehicles can’t board the vessel. The ferry is expected to be out of service for the entire weekend. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews hope to resolve the problems by early next week. Drivers seeking alternate routes to cross the Columbia River can head downstream to SR 174 and cross near the Grand Coulee Dam or upstream to SR 25 and cross near Kettle Falls. WSDOT crews were in the process of moving the north landing ramp and dock assembly to the alternate north shore location on April 7 when the problem occurred. The alternate location allows the ferry to operate when the Lake Roosevelt level is drawn down to handle heavy spring runoff. As the ramp and dock approached the shore, the flotation bag supporting the hinged ramp failed and the ramp became lodged on an offshore sand/mud spit. Crews are making arrangements to bring heavy equipment on site and have a diver attach cables to the ramp assembly so it can be raised out of the water. Once the ramp is freed from the spit, crews can pull the entire system onto shore. www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/04/08_sr21kellerferryout.htm |
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Post by lmtengs on Apr 9, 2011 0:16:20 GMT -8
As the ramp and dock approached the shore, the flotation bag supporting the hinged ramp failed and the ramp became lodged on an offshore sand/mud spit. Crews are making arrangements to bring heavy equipment on site and have a diver attach cables to the ramp assembly so it can be raised out of the water. Once the ramp is freed from the spit, crews can pull the entire system onto shore. What if something similar to this were to happen when a vehicle was in the process of loading onto the Martha S.? Would this have been a lack-of-maintenance issue, or a complication with the towing? |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,942
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Post by FNS on Jul 27, 2011 8:52:55 GMT -8
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Post by umi_ryuzuki on Nov 28, 2011 21:14:05 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 25, 2011 16:05:50 GMT -8
From my father's copy of the guidebook to the 1962 World's Fair:  |
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Jody
Chief Steward
Ferry Foamer
Posts: 152
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Post by Jody on Feb 28, 2012 7:10:03 GMT -8
Looks like we can have a hand in naming the Martha S's replacement. See the WSDOT site here: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR21/KellerFerry/kellerboatname.htmSignificance will be given to Tribal names, and members of the local tribes are part of the committee that will choose the new ferry's name. Deadline for submissions is March 30, 2012. Steve, got your thinking cap on? Jody |
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Post by Kahloke on Feb 28, 2012 7:24:31 GMT -8
Looks like we can have a hand in naming the Martha S's replacement. See the WSDOT site here: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR21/KellerFerry/kellerboatname.htmSignificance will be given to Tribal names, and members of the local tribes are part of the committee that will choose the new ferry's name. Deadline for submissions is March 30, 2012. Steve, got your thinking cap on? Jody How about Nespelem? Nespelem is one of the 12 confederated tribes that make up the Colville Indian Reservation (where the Keller ferry serves), and now a town in the reservation. |
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Post by chokai on Feb 28, 2012 12:11:06 GMT -8
Interesting picture of the model. Is that standard WSF green I spy?
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Post by EGfleet on Jun 25, 2012 14:28:35 GMT -8
The new Keller ferry has a name...
A name for the state’s newest, smallest ferry: Sanpoil
Posted by Nick Provenza
Seattle Times
25 June 2012
The Associated Press
SPOKANE — The newest and smallest state ferry boat finally has a name
The new Keller Ferry will be called the Sanpoil. That’s the name of a river in the region, and was chosen by the state Transportation Commission.
The Keller Ferry crosses the Columbia River north of Wilbur.
The vessel is under construction at the Foss Maritime shipyard in Rainier, Oregon. Later this fall, the parts will be trucked to the town of Grand Coulee and assembled.
The boat is expected to be launched next July and will replace the current vessel, the 64-year-old Martha S.
****
Here's all I could find on the meaning of the word. I don't think the Transportation bothered to look it up:
Sanpoil Lake is a small lake northeast of Republic on an east tributary of the upper Sanpoil River in west central Ferry County. The name origin can be traced back to the name of an Indian band. Another story is that the name was given to the area by French-Canadian employees of early fur traders as sans-poil, or without hair, because of a scarcity of fur-bearing animals.
David Thompson, who explored the area in 1811, before other fur traders came, referred in his journal to Sanpoil Indians. As a further argument against the French-Canadian origin, records show that this region produced quite a lot of furs. A logical conclusion is that the French-Canadians, in a pessimistic mood, distorted the original Indian word to a term in their own language.
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SolDuc
Voyager
West Coast Cyclist
SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
Posts: 2,055
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Post by SolDuc on Nov 30, 2012 23:18:57 GMT -8
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Post by Steve Rosenow on Dec 4, 2012 20:57:06 GMT -8
I am, too. Google Chrome's throwing "Multiple Header" errors.
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SolDuc
Voyager
West Coast Cyclist
SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
Posts: 2,055
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Post by SolDuc on Dec 4, 2012 21:32:17 GMT -8
I guess I'll just send them an email to see if they can fix it
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,942
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Post by FNS on Dec 4, 2012 23:35:15 GMT -8
I'm not. I'm using Firefox as my browser and Adobe Reader to view these files at home. Some of these files do take a bit of time to download and view. |
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SolDuc
Voyager
West Coast Cyclist
SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
Posts: 2,055
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Post by SolDuc on Dec 13, 2012 16:10:41 GMT -8
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SolDuc
Voyager
West Coast Cyclist
SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
Posts: 2,055
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Post by SolDuc on Mar 13, 2013 17:27:17 GMT -8
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Post by Steve Rosenow on Mar 13, 2013 17:48:40 GMT -8
Hmph. They must be adding the sponson knuckles and the rest of the main deck shell in final assembly. As I understood it, it had a more bulbous shape when viewed from above.
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. That should take about a half day according to DOT.
