State ferry Rhododendron sold to B.C. scallop farm
SEATTLE (AP) - The retired Washington State Ferry Rhododendron has been sold to a Vancouver Island scallop farm.
The Kitsap Sun reports the 66-year-old vessel was sold Tuesday for $275,000 to Island Scallops of Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, a branch of Atlantic Capes Fisheries of Cape May, N.J.
The 48-car ferry was last used in January 2012 on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah run between Tacoma and Vashon Island. It was replaced by the new 64-car Chetzemoka. The Rhododendron was named after Washington's state flower and was known as the Rhody.
Island Scallops CEO Robert Saunders says engines will be removed and the 227-foot vessel will be used as a floating platform to handle scallops which are grown on vertical nets. The company grows about 3 million scallops a year.
The Kitsap Sun reports the 66-year-old vessel was sold Tuesday for $275,000 to Island Scallops of Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, a branch of Atlantic Capes Fisheries of Cape May, N.J.
The 48-car ferry was last used in January 2012 on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah run between Tacoma and Vashon Island. It was replaced by the new 64-car Chetzemoka. The Rhododendron was named after Washington's state flower and was known as the Rhody.
Island Scallops CEO Robert Saunders says engines will be removed and the 227-foot vessel will be used as a floating platform to handle scallops which are grown on vertical nets. The company grows about 3 million scallops a year.
I was saddened when the USS Enterprise that had rendered such vital service in the Pacific Theater in WW-II was decommissioned and sold for scrap, but can't get excited about this ferry being sold. Â Besides, I like scallops. Â
Passive/aggressive Seattleites...
You people Suck! Few of you were born here, and far fewer have any respect for the states history.
This once majestic ship is going to a great future, and all you can do is bash the lady.
Yer a pathetic lot. Ya got NO clue, and yet feel entitled to sound off.Â
@bobalouie A "great future"? Be better used as an artificial reef somewhere.
Like I said.
Sounds like a good. Some people spend 1/3 that much on a top of the line car or suv. Or they did until gas got expensive.
I can see it now.
50 years from now it will be discovered sitting rusting away and some group of people will want to buy it and have it restored.Â
Hey Vancouver how much will you give us for the rest of the ferries. Â We will take just about anything cause the savings of not running them is what will really help us.
@APenny4MyThoughts No ferry service, you must not rely on them or ever take them, but a lot of people do.
@northwestsurfer Please refram from saying things like a lot and than give an actual #/percentage of unique yearly riders that rely on them.  Then please explain the cost benefit analysis of these along with note where in the state constitution these are guaranteed.  No I don't rely on them I made a decision not to.  Others made a decision where to live and to work. Being completely dependent on the tax payer subsidies doesn't sound like a good plan for a life.
@APenny4MyThoughts Where did I state profit, I have no inclinations that the roads, bridges or ferries will be profitable anytime soon or ever when ran by our state.  What I'm saying is when they are creating a heavy sided burden to the tax payers that are not inline with the people they help than it is time to reevaluate. There needs to be an acceptably close ratio of users to the funds that falls in line with the total amount available in the states budget.
@APenny4MyThoughts @northwestsurfer Most transit infrastructure is subsidized by tax payers. To propose that the ferry system be treated as a profit center whereas a bridge can be a subsidized facility is a bit preposterous.
Goodbye Rhody. Thanks for 65 years of service to Washington State.