TEs Escort Retiring Ferry

[joe.baar]

Saturday June 28 the Washington State ferry mv Evergreen State made its final revenue run from Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, to Anacortes on the mainland, completing 60 years of service. mv Evergreen State was the first new ferry built for the state highway department, three years after it purchased the existing system from Black Ball Transport in 1951.

The photos I took on Saturday show two different Albins escorting Evergreen State on its journey through the islands. The first Albin, with a radar arch, was with us from Friday Harbor to Lopez Island, and the second one, with a mast, stayed from Lopez to Anacortes. I suspect both boats were twin screw models and they may have been 31s. I was not able to see the name of either boat.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about this escort was that there were only two or three other civilian boats in attendance, in addition to an 87-foot Coast Guard cutter and two official San Juan County boats. Way to go, Albins.

[whwells]

joebaar: Nice shots. Would have been great to see the ferry and escorts arrive in Anacortes, my home port. The top photo does look like a 31te but I think the bottom one is a 28te. Looks to have not have the enclosure and any 31 that i have seen has the Alaskan bulkhead.
Interesting the top photos has lettering that looks like water taxie. Will keep an eye out for it when at San Juan Island.
Wondering if the bottom boat might be our member Mark V. who is having our first night of the Rendevous on Lopez at his place there.
whwells "Howard"

[Pitou]

For identification / starboard side port lights: 3 on the 28 & 2 on the 31

A pair of 28's pictured above.

[whwells]

Pitou: Well done and thanks. Frankly, I was not sure about the top boat.
Howard

[jcollins]

"drinking rum before 10AM makes you a Pirate, not an Alcoholic

[Pitou]

"drinking rum before 10AM makes you a Pirate, not an Alcoholic

Aye!