The vessel was put into service on July 1, 2011 on the Port Townsend-Coupeville (Keystone, Whidbey Island) route.

In the winter, late fall, and early spring, the Salish is a back-up vessel, coming into service as needed when other ferries undergo maintenance, usually on the Port Townsend-Coupeville or Point Defiance-Tahlequah runs.

[5] The Salish's design is based on that of the MV Island Home ferry that is owned by The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority.

This vessel was used as an emergency replacement vessel on the well traveled Bremerton-Seattle run, during this time it was observed the overpowered and diesel fuel-hungry engines couldn't make the 16-knot (30 km/h; 18 mph) speed they were designed for and could do at best 12.8 knots (23.7 km/h; 14.7 mph) (earning the nickname M/V slowish) resulting in major travel delays on top of the reduced capacity one would expect from this small vessel.

These mezzanine decks are not connected, except via the main passenger cabin, allowing for 15 feet 10 inches (4.83 m) of clearance in the center of the vessel.