Official Number:D278437 Call Sign: WL3377 Length: 310' 2'' Beam: 73' 2'' Draft: 15' 6'' Horsepower: 2,500 Speed in Knots: 13 Max Passengers: 1061 Auto Deck Clearance: 13'6'' Max Vehicles: 87 Auto Deck Clearance: 13'6'' City Built: Seattle Year Built/Re-built: 1959 / 1994
Name Translation: Chinook Jargon: "friends; relatives."
Departing from Fauntleroy, the Tillikum heads back to Vashon Island. 2011 has seen the return of the unattractive Flying T" logo of the Washington State Department of Transportation marring the smokestacks of all the ferries. Photo courtesy of Matt Masuoka.
Most of the Tillikum's early life was spent sailing between Winslow and Seattle where she went into service on 11 April 1959. She sailed the route between 1959 and 1968, and was bumped by the Supers (specifically the Elwha) and then shifted up to the Kingston Edmonds route. She divided here time between there and Vashon Island until the Issaquah Class arrived. She also served for a time on Hood Canal when the floating bridge sank.
Traffic once again called for the Super Class ferries to take over for the Tillikum, and she was shifted down to Southworth-Vashon-Fauntleroy run.
Presently the Tilly can be found sailing alongside her sister Klahowya on the Southworth-Vashon-Fauntleroy run, where she has worked for the last several years.
in 2009, the Tillikum earned her gold stripes on her stack as she celebrated her 50th year in service.
Current Fleet
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