View source for MV Chelan

{{Short description|Auto/passenger ferry operated by Washington State}}
{{One source|date=December 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = MV ''Chelan''
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Chelan arriving at Friday Harbor 01.JPG
| Ship caption = ''Chelan'' at [[Friday Harbor, Washington|Friday Harbor]], 2013
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship name = 
| Ship owner = [[Washington State Department of Transportation]]
| Ship operator = [[Washington State Ferries]]
| Ship registry = [[Seattle]], Washington
| Ship route = [[Anacortes–San Juan Islands ferry|Anacortes–San Juan Islands–Sidney, BC]]
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = Marine Power and Equipment, [[Seattle]], Washington
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = 
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 
| Ship launched = 
| Ship christened = 
| Ship completed = 1981
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship maiden voyage = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|7808140}}
*{{MMSI Number|366709770}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: WCX7878
*Official Number: 643291
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = In service
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = <ref name="vessel info">{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/your_wsf/our_fleet/index.cfm?vessel_id=32 |title=M/V Chelan |work=Washington State Dept of Transportation |year=2012 |access-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref>
| Ship class = {{sclass|Issaquah|ferry|0}} [[Ferry|auto/passenger ferry]]
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|2477|disp=long}}
| Ship displacement = {{cvt|3310|LT|t|lk=on}}
| Ship length = {{convert|328|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|78|ft|8|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = 
| Ship draft = {{convert|15|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 4 (2 auto decks, passenger deck, nav bridge deck)
| Ship deck clearance = {{convert|15|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship propulsion = {{Convert|5000|hp|abbr=on}} total from two [[diesel engine]]s
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship speed = {{convert|16|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship capacity = *1,200 passengers (1,090 on international service)
*124 vehicles (24 tall vehicles)
| Ship crew = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

The '''MV ''Chelan''''' is an {{sclass|Issaquah|ferry}} operated by [[Washington State Ferries]], completed and in service in 1981. In 2004, the vessel was refit with a second vehicle deck, and in 2005 was refit with safety equipment to meet the requirements of the [[International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea]] (SOLAS), allowing the ''Chelan'' to make international trips on the [[Anacortes–San Juan Islands ferry|Anacortes–San Juan Islands–Sidney, British Columbia]] route. {{As of|2020|4}} the ''Chelan'' is the only vessel in the Washington State Ferries fleet that meets SOLAS standards.

==History==
The ''Chelan'' was built in 1981, as an ''Issaquah''-class ferry, for service on the [[Edmonds–Kingston ferry]] route.  In the early 1990s, ridership on the Edmonds–Kingston route had grown to the extent that the ''Chelan'' could not handle capacity, and she was replaced on this route by a second {{sclass2|Super|ferry|1}}.

The ''Chelan'' was kept in reserve to serve as a replacement ferry.  On many of the routes she would serve, she would replace an ''Issaquah''-class ferry that had been refit with a second vehicle deck, and the ''Chelan'' would cause service disruptions by carrying fewer vehicles.  

In 2004, she was refit, much like her sister ships to include a second vehicle deck along the outer bulkheads.  

After changes in [[United States Coast Guard]] rules for international travel, the ''Chelan'' was upgraded in 2005 safety equipment to meet the requirements of the [[International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea]] (SOLAS). She is currently the only vessel in the WSF fleet to meet these standards, making it the only ship that can make the international crossing to [[Sidney, British Columbia]]. The safety equipment requirements of SOLAS limit the ''Chelan'' to 1,090 passengers when making international trips, as opposed to the 1,200 she can carry on domestic crossings. During the SOLAS refit, the interior of the ''Chelan'' was also updated to match the other ''Issaquah''-class ferries, with one notable addition, the ''Chelan'' also has a small [[duty-free shop]] onboard.

Because of her SOLAS capability, the ''Chelan'' serves the [[Anacortes–San Juan Islands ferry|Anacortes–San Juan Islands–Sidney, BC]] route during spring, summer and fall, and typically stays on the domestic service between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands during the winter.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{WSF Ferry Classes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chelan, MV}}
[[Category:Washington State Ferries vessels]]
[[Category:1981 ships]]


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