After the San Diego-Coronado Bridge was built, spanning her original route, she was sold to Washington State Ferries where she was christened the MV Kulshan and served in Puget Sound waters from 1970 to 1982.

After her stint with the Washington State Ferries system, the Kulshan was declared surplus to requirements and sold to the United States Coast Guard to provide service for their large Atlantic Area headquarters base on Governors Island in New York Harbor, an island community and workplace for 5000 people.

Three Caterpillar diesel engines power two electric propulsion motors giving her a speed of 12 kn (14 mph).

Coast Guard marine safety inspectors examined both ships and permitted the Island Home to return to service about one hour after her scheduled departure time with only a dent in the hull, above the waterline.

Petty Officer Lauren Downs of the Coast Guard stated "Results of standard drug and alcohol tests on Governor's crew, after the accident, were negative".