The MV Olympic, also known as Olympic II, is a retired automobile ferry with a notable service history spanning from the late 1930s to the early 1990s. Originally launched on December 11, 1937, at the Maryland Drydock Company, the vessel was initially named the MV Gov. Harry W. Nice and operated for the Claiborne–Annapolis Ferry Company on Chesapeake Bay. As a motor ferry, it was designed to carry both passengers and vehicles, with a capacity of approximately 600 passengers and 50 automobiles. Its construction and early service reflected the transportation needs of Maryland prior to the expansion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Following the end of Maryland’s ferry operations after 1952, the vessel was sold and acquired by Washington State Ferries in 1954, where it was rechristened Olympic, named after the Olympic Mountains. In the Pacific Northwest, Olympic served on various routes across Puget Sound, functioning as a single-engine automobile ferry. It remained in active service until its retirement in 1993, marking over five decades of operational history. Post-retirement, the vessel changed hands several times. In 1997, it was sold at auction for $71,000 to Darrell McNabb, who moored it in Eagle Harbor with intentions of rehabilitating it for reuse. Over the years, the ferry was offered for sale via eBay and to the Pacific Maritime Foundation but remained moored and unused. In May 2010, Olympic was purchased by Tom Palmer and towed south, but during transit, it ran aground near Ketron Island. The vessel later broke free during a windstorm, shifting position and prompting concerns over shoreline impact and safety. Since then, Olympic has been stranded on private property on Ketron Island, where it continues to deteriorate. Its large size has hindered removal efforts, and legal and logistical challenges have prevented its disposal, leading to its designation as a "public nuisance" by Pierce County. The vessel’s long-standing presence and the difficulties surrounding its removal highlight ongoing issues related to maritime preservation, environmental impact, and vessel disposal.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.