NEAH BAY — Damage caused when winds thrust the old ferry Kalakala into the Makah tribe’s dock has fueled increasing tensions between tribal leaders and ferry owner Steve Rodrigues.
Makah Tribal Council Treasurer Blanchard Matte on Tuesday said shortly after the vessel landed March 10 at the tribe’s pier off Waadah View Drive, winds slammed the art deco ferry into the dock, damaging three pilings and requiring an estimated $4,000 in repairs.
Matte said Rodrigues did not have insurance at the time of the incident.
The vessel has since been moved to moorage about 100 yards to the west of the pier.
Rodrigues said moving the vessel was at great expense to him — about $300 a day — and took up to six weeks to get the Kalakala safely moored offshore and away from the pier.
Matte, however, says the vessel is still drifting and threatening further damage to the pier.
While Rodrigues on Tuesday said he believed the tribe should have secured safe moorage for the 69-year-old, 276-foot-long vessel, Matte reminded that Rodrigues was getting his moorage for free.
“Maybe there’s a misunderstanding of the obligation for the moorage, but we provided as much as we could at no cost to him,” said Matte, adding that the tribe “never guaranteed him moorage.”
Matte contends that Rodrigues was too busy making arrangements and raising money two days before he moved the Kalakala to visit the dock and make necessary preparations for safe moorage.
Matte said the Tribal Council was concerned that Rodrigues was not communicating with its members or visiting the vessel to ensure its security.
“We’re not supposed to be a caretaker of it,” said Matte.
“He’s supposed to take care of it and make sure it does not damage the dock. . . . We just hope he would show up to show some concern as to taking care of the boat.”
