View source for MV Skagit

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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship name=''Skagit''
|Ship owner=[[WSDOT]]
|Ship operator=[[Washington State Ferries]] 1990–2009
|Ship registry=[[Seattle, Washington]], United States 1989–2011
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Halter Marine, New Orleans, Louisiana<ref name="mm" />
|Ship original cost=$5 million<ref name="bw" />
|Ship yard number=
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|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=
|Ship completed=1989
|Ship christened=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage=
|Ship in service=1990
|Ship out of service=2009
|Ship identification=* {{IMO Number|8645284}}
* Official Number: D949140
* [[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]: WAA6309<ref name="evergreen">[http://www.evergreenfleet.com/monohull.html The Monohull ferries - M/V ''Skagit''], evergreenfleet.com</ref>
|Ship fate=Sold to Canadian investors after unsuccessful ebay listing<ref name="st"/>
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship name=''Skagit''
|Ship owner=
|Ship operator=Seagull Sea Transport (Zanzibar)<ref name="mm"/><ref name=guardian/>
|Ship registry=Zanzibar (October 25, 2011–)<ref name=guardian/>
|Ship route=[[Dar es Salaam]], Tanzania–[[Unguja Island]], Zanzibar
|Ship acquired=c. 2011
|Ship in service=c. 2011
|Ship out of service=July 18, 2012
|Ship identification=
|Ship fate=*Sank near [[Chumbe Island]] off Zanzibar;
*c. 150 people presumed dead.
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class=[[Skagit Kalama-class ferry|''Skagit Kalama''-class]] [[passenger ferry]]
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length={{convert|112|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|25|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
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|Ship draft={{convert|8|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
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|Ship power=Total {{convert|2,840|hp|abbr=on|lk=in}} from four [[diesel engine]]s
|Ship propulsion=Diesel Reduction
|Ship speed={{convert|25|kn}}
|Ship capacity=250 passengers<ref name="vessel info">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110406184807/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/VesselWatch/VesselDetail.aspx?vessel_id=39 Vessel information - M/V ''Skagit''], WSF, WSDOT</ref>
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'''MV ''Skagit''''' was a [[Skagit Kalama-class ferry|''Skagit Kalama''-class]]{{citation needed|reason=Are they really referred to with this class name?|date=September 2012}} [[passenger ferry]] originally operated by [[Washington State Ferries]] (WSF) from 1989–2009 and then in [[Tanzania]] until her sinking in [[Zanzibar]] in July 2012.

==Operational history==
''Skagit'' and {{MV|Kalama}} were the only two ships of their class in the WSF fleet. Together they served on the [[Seattle]]-[[Vashon Island]] route (see [[King County Water Taxi]]).<ref name="route info">[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=sea-vapo Route information], WSF, WSDOT</ref> In 2006, WSF was directed to end its passenger-only service, and in 2011 ''Skagit'' and ''Kalama'' were sold and transported to [[Tanzania]] to provide service between the mainland and [[Zanzibar]].<ref>[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/02/POF_021811.htm Washington ferries destined for Tanzania], Washington State Department of Transportation, Friday, February 18, 2011. Accessed 18 February 2011.</ref>

==Sinking==
On July 18, 2012, the vessel sank near [[Chumbe Island]]<ref name=eunavfor>{{citation|title=Capsized Ferry off Zanzibar – EU Naval Force Assists Rescue Efforts with Luxembourg Patrol Aircraft|date=July 20, 2012|url=http://eunavfor.eu/capsized-ferry-off-zanzibar-eu-naval-force-assists-rescue-efforts-with-luxembourg-patrol-aircraft|publisher=[[Operation Atalanta|EU NAVFOR Somalia]]|accessdate=2013-10-16}}</ref> while in ferry service in [[Tanzania]]. After departing [[Dar es Salaam]] bound for [[Unguja Island]] (Zanzibar) with more than 250 people on board, the ship struggled in rough seas and sank approximately {{convert|10|km|mi|sp=us}} from Unguja.<ref name="mm">{{cite web |url= http://maritimematters.com/2012/07/mv-skagit-former-u-s-ferry-capsizes-off-tanzanian-coast/ |title=MV SKAGIT, Former U.S. Ferry Capsizes Off Tanzanian Coast |first=Shawn |last=Drake |date=July 18, 2012 |work=Maritime Matters |accessdate=2012-08-11}}</ref> At least 146 were rescued while as many as 150 were still missing after a day of rescue operations.<ref name="st">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018713753_skagit19m.html Toll from former Vashon ferry sinking in Tanzania could hit 150] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719223625/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018713753_skagit19m.html |date=2012-07-19 }}, Seattle Times, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Accessed 15 August 2012.</ref> 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.<ref name="bw">{{cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-07-20/death-toll-rises-to-31-in-tanzania-ferry-accident |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723000852/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-07-20/death-toll-rises-to-31-in-tanzania-ferry-accident |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |title=Death toll rises to 31 in Tanzania ferry accident |agency=AP |first=Ali |last=Sultan |date=July 20, 2012 |newspaper=Businessweek}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=More than 100 missing after Zanzibar ferry sinks|author=Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala|date=July 19, 2012|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tanzania-ferry-idUSBRE86I0NB20120719|accessdate=2013-10-15}}</ref>

== Outcome ==
The Zanzibar government blamed the disaster on the ship operating over too long of a distance, and the island's transportation minister resigned.<ref name=guardian>{{citation|newspaper=The Guardian|location=Tanzania|publisher=[[IPP Media]]|title=Zanzibar tightens marine safety|date=July 24, 2012|url=http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/?l=43989|accessdate=2013-10-16}}</ref> In addition, vessels had been warned not to make the crossing because of the high seas, according to Tanzania's chief meteorologist.<ref name=st/> After ''Skagit''{{'}}s loss, Zanzibar barred [[sister ship]] MV ''Kalama'' from operating and later "deleted" her and three other ferries from its list of sea vessels for safety reasons.<ref name=guardian/><ref>{{citation|title=Tanzania: From the Zanzibar House of Reps|author=ISSA YUSSUF|date=27 July 2012|newspaper=[[Tanzania Daily News]]|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201207270560.html?viewall=1|accessdate=2013-10-16}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Sinking of MV Spice Islander I|Sinking of MV ''Spice Islander I'']]
* [[List of maritime disasters]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{YouTube|aybPBuhnxIU|Zanzibar Presidential commission presents report on MV Skagit ferry accident}} — [[Capital Television News Tanzania]], October 11, 2012

{{WSF Ferry Classes}}
{{2012 shipwrecks}}
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[[Category:Washington State Ferries vessels]]
[[Category:1989 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2012]]
[[Category:2012 in Tanzania]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in Tanzania]]
[[Category:Ships built in New Orleans]]
[[Category:July 2012 in Africa]]
[[Category:2012 disasters in Africa]]


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[[Category:Ferry boat disasters]]