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Post by SS San Mateo on Dec 6, 2011 8:31:47 GMT -8
Old Kalakala ferry up for sale – for just $1More here
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Dec 6, 2011 12:32:14 GMT -8
Want an indication of why Steve Rodrigues has been so spectacularly unsuccessful at getting people to buy into his $50 million Kalakala pipe dream? Read this... www.kalakala.org/news/COTP_RE-Nov_29_2011.pdf....jaw droppingly bizarre, including his remarks on the steel electrics. His remarks about the Kalakala having "global social and cultural significances" also don't indicate someone who has any sense of the public's perception of this vessel.
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Post by Kahloke on Dec 6, 2011 13:34:40 GMT -8
Want an indication of why Steve Rodrigues has been so spectacularly unsuccessful at getting people to buy into his $50 million Kalakala pipe dream? Read this... www.kalakala.org/news/COTP_RE-Nov_29_2011.pdf....jaw droppingly bizarre, including his remarks on the steel electrics. His remarks about the Kalakala having "global social and cultural significances" also don't indicate someone who has any sense of the public's perception of this vessel. Wow! Is this guy deluded or what!?
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Post by lmtengs on Dec 6, 2011 15:52:31 GMT -8
I'm tempted to say that the Voyagers, as a group, should buy her.
Purchase her, buy a waterfront plot of land, prepare the land, then beach her there, similar to that steamboat in Penticton. Once beached, we don't have to worry about the state of her hull and seaworthiness, so we can volunteer our time to restore her as time and money permit. Keep a caretaker (a forum member) living on site to keep people away. Once she's restored (probably half a century from now?) she could be used as the WCFF HQ.
Pipe dream? Duh. But it would be fun. ;D
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Post by Mike C on Dec 6, 2011 18:20:43 GMT -8
Want an indication of why Steve Rodrigues has been so spectacularly unsuccessful at getting people to buy into his $50 million Kalakala pipe dream? Read this... www.kalakala.org/news/COTP_RE-Nov_29_2011.pdf....jaw droppingly bizarre, including his remarks on the steel electrics. His remarks about the Kalakala having "global social and cultural significances" also don't indicate someone who has any sense of the public's perception of this vessel. This is hilarious. What a dis-proportioned perception of reality, the public and the world. If I had the time and the money, I'd save everyone the trouble and send it to Mexico the following day to be made into pop cans and automobiles.
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Post by chokai on Dec 6, 2011 19:52:20 GMT -8
I wonder if she'd even survive a trip down to Mexico. She maybe destined for becoming a reef at the best. It's obvious Rodrigues knows this and is trying to sell her to legally CYA himself from the impending environmental fines that would be levied should she sink either in Tacoma or elsewhere. No one in thier right mind is going to buy her.
She's been rusting away for so long now that the amount of work she likely needs is probably astronomical. Your ideal person would be someone like Paul Allen , though he is considerably more interested in airplanes for the most part. I can't think of any other local wealthy individuals passionate about that type of thing, and the local non-profits are way to pinched to take something like that on obviously. The end maybe nigh.
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Post by Kahloke on Dec 19, 2011 7:51:15 GMT -8
Kalakala has been sold for $1 to an anonymous bidder. Here's the article from KOMO this morning: Owner: Kalakala ferry sold for $1, 'saved from scrap yard'By KOMO Staff & Seattlepi.com Published: Dec 19, 2011 at 7:22 AM PST SEATTLE -- The adventures of the old, rustic ferry Kalakala have taken another twist with the announced sale of the ferry Monday morning. Kalakala owner Steve Rodrigues posted a note on the ferry's website stating the boat was sold to an anonymous bidder for $1. "The Kalakala will be saved from the scrap yard and restored to her full glory," Rodrigues wrote. He didn't give any further details of the sale, but Rodrigues stipulated in putting the ferry up for sale that he was not interested in selling to salvage companies. Built in the 1920s, the Kalakala began serving Seattle as a ferry in 1935, according to HistoryLink.org. It sailed the Bremerton route for more than 30 years before it was auctioned off in 1967. That’s when its darkest days began, re-purposed in Alaska as a fish processing ship before being grounded in 1972 as a cannery. There it remained, smelly and unseaworthy, until 1998. That’s when Seattle sculptor Peter Bevis bought the Kalakala and brought it back to Seattle. His efforts to restore – a multi-million dollar venture – ultimately failed, however, and by 2003 the rusted hulk was no longer welcome in Lake Union. It was sold to Steve Rodrigues, who took decrepit vessel to Neah Bay and then to Tacoma, where it currently sits. Rodrigues also had a dream of restoring the Kalakala to its original condition. But the project’s budget has grown to nearly $50 million, according to the project’s website, and Rodrigues needed some help.[/i] link: www.komonews.com/news/local/Owner-Kalakala-ferry-sold-for-1-saved-from-scrap-yard-135857043.html
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Post by lmtengs on Dec 19, 2011 12:31:50 GMT -8
The Kalakala might just be the Puget Sound's most tossed around ferry. She went from loved to lost to back, but hated, she's had at least 5 or 6 owners over the years, even more moorages (and beaches), and now she's going down a new road. Boy oh boy, how I love keeping track of this...
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Post by EGfleet on Dec 23, 2011 17:55:26 GMT -8
Have to admit, I saw this coming.
Kalakala declared hazard, mooring inadequate Posted by Susan Gilmore on December 23, 2011 at 11:42 AM
UPDATE: 3:35 pm. The ferry Kalakala has been declared a hazard to navigation, setting the stage for the Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers to decide what’s next for the decaying old boat.
The hazard declaration means, among other things, that the ferry’s mooring arrangement is inadequate, according to the Coast Guard.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, options for dealing with the ferry include doing nothing, moving it if it poses a significant threat or emergency or anchoring it or “pinning” it so it doesn’t go anywhere. The last option would be only temporary.
The Coast Guard had set a Dec. 19 deadline for owner Steve Rodrigues to repair the hull of the Kalakala and submit a plan to tow it from its berth at Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma. Rodrigues appealed the Coast Guard order, but the appeal was rejected this week.
It was due to the advance degradation of the ships hull and lack of reliable dewatering equipment, said Regina Caffrey, with the Coast Guard.
“We rejected his appeal. It wasn’t sufficient and there was no evidence of new information that anything had been done,” she said.
Rodrigues, who could not be reached, said last week that he’d sold the ferry to an anonymous out-of-state buyer who plans to restore it. He didn’t tell the Coast Guard the name of the new buyer, nor did he provide any evidence of a transaction, the Coast Guard said.
The 276-foot silver ferry with sleek lines sailed on Puget Sound from 1935 to 1967. After its ferry days, it became a fish-processing ship in Alaska and later all but abandoned. It was towed back to Washington in 1998 with the idea it would be restored, but no one came up with the money to do so.
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Post by Freeland on Dec 26, 2011 15:06:06 GMT -8
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 10, 2012 19:04:41 GMT -8
This comes from Knute Burger at Crosscut and his Hertiage Turkeys of the Year. Be sure to read the whole article, as a project in Vancouver made the list. (Link at the end.) The Wreck of the Silver Slug
Winner: The Kalakala's keepers For: Good intentions, poor follow-through The Silver Slug hangs by a slender thread, the biggest maritime heritage tragedy unfolding here. (It's on the Fyddeye Guides' list of 10 Most Endangered Ships of 2011.) This historic, iconic art deco ferry is moored and sinking at Tacoma's Hylebos Waterway. The U.S. Coast Guard says it has been working with Steve Rodrigues, the Kalakala's owner, for the last 10 months to secure the leaky boat, which is taking on water and bottoming out at low tides. They have declared the vessel an imminent navigational hazard which sets it up to be seized by the Army Corps of Engineers. Coast Guard Lt. Ian Hanna says that Rodrigues has given them contradictory information and has been "unwilling or unable" to follow through on plans to secure or move the ferry. The Port of Tacoma is afraid the Kalakala could sink at any time, and predicts dealing with a one-boat blockade could cost the Port $23 million a month in lost business. Ironically, the Kalakala might have been better off berthed in a less crucial port. The next step is grim: The Corps is seeking federal funding to remove the Kalakala. If taken by the Corps, it would be dry-docked and scrapped at an estimated cost of $1 million- $1.5 million, not including environmental unforeseen issues such as dealing with PCBs, asbestos, etc.). Some historic parts might be salvaged as part of mitigation. Rodrigues also faces potential Coast Guard fines of up to $40,000 per day for his failure to comply their requirements. The slender thread: If the feds seize the Kalakala for demolition, Rodrigues would have 30 more days to comply before the vessel would be broken up. But given that he has not been able to do so to date, there is little grounds for optimism. crosscut.com/2012/01/09/mossback/21774/Heritage-Turkeys-of-the-year/?utm_source=Crosscut+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3aa4d22562-Crosscut_Daily_Newsletter_1_9_20121_9_2012&utm_medium=email
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Jan 10, 2012 19:54:40 GMT -8
I remember reading a news release recently from Rodrigues where he was proclaiming all the work that had been done on the Kalakala's hull, and saying it was sitting higher in the water than in had for years. Guess he overlooked the wee detail that that was only at low tide...
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Jan 10, 2012 20:22:51 GMT -8
:)kind of brings to mind an old regge song 'the tide is high' but not quite as bubbly as blondie sang it! pritty sad, the retirement years are for many marine veterns! :'(mrdot.
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Post by norseman on Jan 22, 2012 22:41:43 GMT -8
Well here in the UK there are a few of us watching with interest. We hope kalakala pulls through, but just can't see how.
If the $1 sale statement turned out to be fictitious woulda crime have been committed?
Regards Dave
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 23, 2012 5:53:05 GMT -8
At this point, I would have to say she's done for. Storm-damaged Kalakala close to sinking; feds could step in to dismantle ship
Jan 22 2012 in Boats, Currents, Slider by Deborah Bach 25 New storm damage to the Kalakala has caused the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue a call for a contractor to be on call to stabilize the vessel and move it to a new location if needed. And if the Corps has to step in, it will likely be the end of the iconic ferry. The Kalakala was blown into a derelict barge onshore during last week’s winter storm. As the tide retreated, the ship got caught on the barge and began listing to port at about 30 degrees, leaving the deck less than a foot above water. “The vessel is likely damaged and highly susceptible to further injury or deterioration with any sudden impact or severe movement,” according to a Corps document. On Friday, the Corps issued an emergency request for a contractor to stabilize the 276-foot vessel and tow it to a new location on Commencement Bay if needed. Corps spokesman William Dowell said the idea is to have a plan in place in case the Kalakala breaks loose or otherwise becomes a navigational or environmental hazard. The Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma, where the 1926 vessel has been moored for six years, is one of the nation’s largest Superfund sites. At the bottom of the waterway is a toxic layer of sediment contaminated with PCBs, arsenic and other harmful materials. The Corps will not step in unless it has to, Dowell said, but if that happens, it will be the end of the historic vessel. “The Corps isn’t in the job of towing this boat somewhere where they can fix it up,” he said. “We’re going to tow it somewhere and it’s going to be dismantled. Once we get involved, that’s it. We can’t stop the process.” The Corps action comes after a desperate effort by the boat’s previous owner, Steve Rodrigues, to sell the Kalakala for as little as a dollar. Rodrigues, who purchased the Kalakala in 2003, had tried unsuccessfully to raise $49.5 million to restore the vessel. The Art Deco ferry, once an icon of the Pacific Northwest on par with the Space Needle, has been moored on the Hylebos Waterway for six years. Last spring, the ship began taking on water and listing to the side. The Coast Guard gave Rodrigues until Dec. 19 to provide information on where he plans to move the boat. Concrete Technology Corporation, the owner of the site where the Kalakala is moored, terminated its lease and demanded that it be moved by the end of the year. In late December, a notice on the Kalakala’s website announced that the boat had been sold for a dollar, but as of Sunday, the notice was no longer on the site. The boat remains moored at Concrete Technology’s site, and Rodrigues, who could not immediately be reached, is believed to still own it. The hope is that the Corps will not have to seize the vessel, Dowell said. “It’s a sad situation,” he said. “We don’t want this to happen at all.” threesheetsnw.com/blog/2012/01/storm-damaged-kalakala-close-to-sinking-feds-step-in-to-stabilize-listing-ship/
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Jan 23, 2012 11:42:10 GMT -8
:)you know looking at the remains of Kalakla and the remains of Sidney&San Mateao on the Fraser mud bank, is so very forlorn, in the bleak midwinter! :'(mrdot.
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Post by Steve Rosenow on Jan 25, 2012 9:51:57 GMT -8
I sure hope someone can step in. The Kalakala CAN be saved. Anyone who says it's "done in" is a fool. Look at this: www.flickr.com/photos/ssnomadic/6722044785/That is the LAST White Star Line vessel (White Star Line was the steamship company that owned Titanic). Infact, the Nomadic ties directly into the story of the Titanic, as she ferried passengers and cargo to Titanic during her maiden voyage at a port call in Cherbourg, France. Restoration work is nearly complete on her. And her hull is completely original. (The steel in those vessels was much thicker than the steel used in today's ships, and was riveted instead of welded). It sickens me that we cannot preserve our history and heritage here in America.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 25, 2012 9:58:50 GMT -8
Anyone who says it's "done in" is a fool. There are plenty of those types of fools on this here forum. I'm one of them. ;D
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Jan 25, 2012 10:40:03 GMT -8
I sure hope someone can step in. The Kalakala CAN be saved. Anyone who says it's "done in" is a fool. You're ignoring decades of experience regarding car ferries in this part of the world, and you're not taking into account the record of complete apathy from any possible financial sources regarding the Kalakala, ever since it was brought back south from Alaska. She's done. Deal with it.
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Jan 25, 2012 11:16:09 GMT -8
:)even our lord who walked on the water, is not able to save our retired westcoast ferries, I am afraid! we are going to have trouble just keeping present day ferries going on many routes, we are going to be challenged just keeping highway infrastructure, or filling potholes! clawbacks on my retirement nestegg are just beginning, I'am afraid! as winston chirchill said, I'll just have to keep buggern on! :)mrdot.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 25, 2012 11:28:06 GMT -8
Feds keep close watch on Kalakalawww.heraldnet.com/article/20120125/NEWS03/701259846Associated Press TACOMA -- The Kalakala is no longer listing and wasn't responsible for a sheen at the Port of Tacoma, but the Coast Guard and Corps of Engineers are still keeping an eye on the historic ferry as a hazard to navigation. Coast Guard Petty Officer Nathan Bradshaw says inspectors checked out a sheen on the Hylebos Waterway on Monday and determined it was not coming from the Kalakala. The Coast Guard continues to monitor the vessel. Corps spokesman Bill Dowell says high tide apparently lifted the Kalakala off a sunken barge and it's no longer listing. He says the corps likely won't step in unless something catastrophic happens. Once the pride of Puget Sound, the 77-year-old streamlined ferry has been parked in Tacoma for six years, waiting for restoration.
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 29, 2012 5:55:02 GMT -8
There's been some discussion of ugly livery on this board--usually in regard to the current BCFC scheme with the mating slugs or with the Stena version of the Maggie...for me, hands down, it has to be the Key System orange. This is a screen capture of the Yerba Buena in the original Key System livery. For those following the Kalakala's history, you'll know that she was built from the hull of the identical sister ferry, Peralta after the Peralta had been destroyed in the Key System terminal fire. One thing I'll say about this color--you couldn't miss it.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Jan 30, 2012 9:05:06 GMT -8
There's been some discussion of ugly livery on this board--usually in regard to the current BCFC scheme with the mating slugs or with the Stena version of the Maggie...for me, hands down, it has to be the Key System orange. This is a screen capture of the Yerba Buena in the original Key System livery. For those following the Kalakala's history, you'll know that she was built from the hull of the identical sister ferry, Peralta after the Peralta had been destroyed in the Key System terminal fire. One thing I'll say about this color--you couldn't miss it. Almost as attractive as the rusticle coloured Staten Island Ferries in NYC>
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D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Jan 30, 2012 16:05:58 GMT -8
Safety Orange...
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Post by SS San Mateo on Apr 23, 2012 19:04:37 GMT -8
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