The MV Hyak is a Super-class ferry operated by Washington State Ferries, constructed in 1966 at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company yard in San Diego, California. Launched and christened on December 17, 1966, by Nancy Evans, wife of Governor Daniel J. Evans, the vessel was built at a cost of $6.5 million. The Hyak, whose name means "speedy" in Chinook Jargon, was delivered in mid-1967, after a delayed voyage north along the Pacific Coast that was interrupted by a storm near San Francisco. Upon arrival in Seattle on July 4, 1967, she was temporarily delayed by repairs due to a broken breakwater. The ferry entered service on July 19, 1967, after a labor dispute was resolved, and was assigned primarily to the Seattle–Bremerton route, where it significantly reduced crossing times from 65 to 45 minutes. The Hyak's service history includes operating on the Edmonds-Kingston route and filling in on other routes such as Seattle-Bainbridge, especially during her later years. Unlike her sister vessels, she did not undergo extensive cabin refurbishments. The vessel measured approximately 45 years of service, during which she experienced several notable incidents. In 1977, she rammed the Seattle terminal slip, causing significant damage estimated at $500,000. In 1986, she ran aground in Anacortes due to crew navigational error, resulting in minor injuries and $250,000 in damages. In 2013, the Hyak collided with a sailboat between Orcas and Shaw islands; the sailboat sank, but no injuries were reported. By her later years, the Hyak served mainly as a standby vessel, with plans for an experimental hybrid conversion later scrapped. Her aging condition was underscored by a $37 million maintenance backlog, leading to her retirement on June 30, 2019. Her horn was donated to Climate Pledge Arena, where it is used by the Seattle Kraken during home games, and her engine order telegraph was preserved for pre-game shows. The vessel’s retirement marked the end of her significant maritime service, and she was prepared for sale as surplus property.

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