Columbia Glacier in the Chugach Mountains, which is in turn named for Columbia University
Owner
Alaska Marine Highway System
Port of registry
United States
Route
Bellingham, Washington
Ketchikan, Alaska
Wrangell, Alaska
Petersburg, Alaska
Sitka, Alaska
Haines, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
Builder
Lockheed Shipbuilding Seattle, Washington
Acquired
1974
Homeport
Ketchikan, Alaska
Identification
IMO number: 7320095
MMSI number: 367144000
Callsign: WYR2092
O.N. 557340
ABS I.D. 7408017
General characteristics
Class and type
RORO ferry
Displacement
7,745 long tons (SW)
Length
418 ft (127.406 m)
Beam
85 ft and 1.5 in (25.946 m)
Draft
24 ft and 0 inches (7.315 m)
Decks
Two vehicle decks
Installed power
12,350 hsp
Propulsion
Two V 12 Enterprises 9,000 + hp, each.
Speed
17.3 knots & on Bunker "C" fuel = 22.0 knots
Capacity
Passengers 499
Automobiles 134 (20' lengths)
Notes
Aft, port, and starboard ro-ro loading
The M/V Columbia is a mainline ferry vessel for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
M/V Columbia at Bellingham Cruise Terminal
Constructed in 1974 by Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, Washington, the M/V Columbia has been the flagship vessel for the Alaska ferry system for over 40 years. As a mainline ferry, which means she serves the largest of the inside passage communities (such as Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, Haines, Skagway, and Sitka), her route spans the entirety of the inside passage, often beginning runs in Bellingham, Washington and running to the northernmost Alaskan Panhandle community of Skagway stopping in communities along the way, during the summer season (winter services are sometimes operated by the MV Malaspina). Columbia has an upper deck between the main vehicle deck and the cabin deck with additional vehicle stowage accessed by two vehicle elevators capable of hoisting 19 foot vehicles with their passengers, and additional passenger cabins.
On July 2, 2006, an auxiliary engine room fire broke out on the Columbia temporarily impairing steering and propulsion on her northbound voyage from Bellingham in Seymour Narrows in Canadian waters. She motored to Duncan Bay, British Columbia for damage assessment before continuing on to Ketchikan's Alaska Ship & Dry Dock for more extensive repairs.
Early on 15 August 2007, only two months before a scheduled overhaul, position number two connecting rod in the Columbia's starboard engine experienced a bearing failure. To prevent catastrophic damage to the surrounding components the engine was secured. The 268 passengers were rerouted, and she was sent to Ketchikan, where she was originally planned to be repaired within the week. Soon it became apparent that she would require further work, and in a controversial decision the Marine Highway System chose to cancel all further summer voyages on the ship pending repairs. Nearly all the other ships in the fleet were rerouted to make up for the loss of what many consider to be the flagship of the fleet, and many passengers were urged to seek alternative travel means to help ease the pressure on the system. Transferred to Cascade General Shipyard at Swan Island in the Portland, Oregon area; both main engines were disassembled and overhauled.[1] As of May 19, 2008 the MV Columbia left Cascade General and sailed to Bellingham, WA to begin active service.
The vessel was moored in Ketchikan, AK for a winter layup period/heavy maintenance period from September 2009 to June 2010. During this period of time the propeller shafting and associated wheels were overhauled. The repair of damage sustained to the port main engine viscous damper drive coupling during the middle of the 2009 operating season was remediated as well.
^"M/V Columbia Down With Engine Problems". sitnews.us. 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
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Global Information
Alaska Marine Highway System
United States