MV WESTWARD (Wooden Motor Vessel)
historic place
The MV WESTWARD is a historic wooden motor vessel located in Seattle, Washington. She was constructed in 1924 at the John A. Martinolich Shipbuilding Company in Dockton, Washington. Renowned naval architect Leslie Edward "Ted" Geary of Seattle designed the vessel in 1923. The WESTWARD is 86 feet long and is powered by her original 1923 four-cylinder Atlas Imperial diesel engine. Her design was a transitional form, combining a traditional work boat hull with the interior spaces of a yacht. This design innovation was a significant advance in Geary's career. The MV WESTWARD pioneered the Alaska cruise trade in the 1920s, carrying passengers on expeditions. During World War II, the vessel was pressed into military service. In the 1970s, she completed a circumnavigation of the globe. The MV WESTWARD was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on April 12, 2007. Her continued operation with the original engine highlights her enduring historical significance.