News
HEADLINES
Ferry modifications could top $1 million
June 20, 2008
Significant work may need to be done to the Pierce County ferry Christine Anderson before it begins service on the Keystone-Port Townsend route in September.
The ferry is expected to replace the Steilacoom II, the vessel currently being rented from Pierce County to serve the Hwy. 20 link across Admiralty Inlet.
According to Washington State Ferries Communications Manager Hadley Greene, a WSF ferry captain and engineer recently tested the vessel and reported that it would need some work before it was fit to serve the route, which experiences wind, waves and currents beyond what the ferry was designed to handle on a regular basis.
One of the changes recommended for the Christine Anderson could cost $1 million or more. Greene said the estimate is only a preliminary figure.
"All we have now is the initial impression," she said.
The 214-foot Christine Anderson will replace the 216-foot Steilacoom II on the run in September. Both 50-car ferries belong to Pierce County.
Pierce County officials told WSF they wanted the Steilacoom II back sooner than originally planned, largely because the wait for new vessels to replace the retired Steel Electrics will be longer than had been planned.
The first Island Home class ferry is expected to begin operating in spring 2010. With the 12-foot extension, it will be able to carry up to 64 vehicles.
An official estimate for the recommended alterations was delayed when the Christine Anderson was recently dry-docked for emergency repairs, Greene said. The vessel suffered a broken shaft seal around the propeller on May 25, causing a leak in the hull.
The alteration recommended by the ferry captain and engineer is the installation of a variable-pitch propeller. Unlike a fixed propeller that has stationary blades, the blades of a variable-pitch propeller can move to affect torque and power.
The reason the change may be necessary on the run has to do with the tricky conditions at Keystone Harbor. Nicknamed "the hole" for its small entrance, the harbor is subject to fast-moving tidal currents.
"They need to come in fast, and slow down fast," Greene said.
The concern is that the Christine Anderson may be able to accomplish just one of those things. The ferry testers were worried that the fixed propeller and 1,000-horsepower engines may not be powerful enough to stop the vessel before it collides with the terminal. But if the vessel is powered down too soon, before it enters the harbor, a fast-moving current could slam it into the rock breakwater, or onto the beach.
The Steilacoom II, a sister ship to the Christine Anderson, has a variable-pitch propeller and larger, 1,500 horsepower engines.
Greene said news of the expensive modification came as a surprise. Modification costs had initially been expected to run about the same as those made to the Steilacoom II - about $220,000.
That paid for the installation of safety equipment such as life rafts and upgrading the ship electronics. Navigation equipment and an automatic depth indicating system were also added.
Marine consultants are expected to work out a cost estimate for the new propeller system by next week. They also will be able to provide a better picture of whether the change is necessary. WSF officials could opt not to install the new propeller system, and instead plan on a higher number of service cancellations during periods when the current is moving fast off the west shore of Whidbey Island.
If the new propeller system is necessary, Greene said, WSF would renegotiate terms of a lease with Pierce County for the Christine Anderson. The lease was a verbal agreement made before the discovery of the potential problem.
At the moment, Pierce County isn't planning on spending any money on a variable-pitch propeller system, said Mike Esher, ferry administrator for the county. But he said he would not object if WSF elects to install the new system.
"They can gold plate the whole thing if they want to," Esher said.
Senate Transportation Committee Chair Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, said she wasn't surprised to hear about the unexpected cost with the leased ferry. She blamed the problem on state lawmakers who supported building Island Home class ferries instead of copies of the Steilacoom II.
"When we made the decision not to build new boats like [the Steilacoom II], we got stuck with what was available," Haugen said.
However, she said, having no ferry at all on the Hwy. 20 crossing is not an option.
Memorial Day weekend car traffic down by one-third at Keystone
June 6, 2008
With one small ferry operating on the Keystone-Port Townsend route - and ferry riders getting used to a new reservation system - Memorial Day weekend traffic was down 36 percent from a year ago.
According to traffic-count records supplied by Washington State Ferries, the Keystone ferry carried 3,209 vehicles from Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26, using 66 percent of total vehicle carrying capacity through the weekend.
The total vehicle capacity of the ferry during the holiday weekend was 4,800, compared to 7,800 on the same weekend last year, when 5,039 vehicles made the crossing between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. That year, about 65 percent of total vehicle capacity on the route was used.
According to the Washington Department of Trasnportation, traffic over the holiday weekend was down statewide between 3 and 4 percent, attributed largely to the recent increase in fuel prices.
Memorial Day weekend weather was similar in both 2007 and 2008, although this year saw warmer temperatures and more sunshine.
Washington State Ferries Communication Manager Hadley Greene said so much has changed on the Keystone run in the past year that a year-to-year comparison is hard to make.
"It's sort of apples and oranges," Greene said.
The route's vehicle capacity this year is much smaller, with one 50-car ferry rather than the two 65-car Steel Electrics that used to run during the summer, she said.
But some local business leaders worry that lack of confidence in the route may prompt some travelers to travel via the ferry crossings at Clinton and Edmonds instead.
And in May, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Commanding Officer Capt. Gerral David told WSF chief David Moseley that the crossing is so unreliable, the majority of the base's supply trucks elect instead to get to Whidbey Island via the Deception Pass Bridge.
Officials debate impact of ferry troubles on the Whidbey economy
June 6, 2008
While it's still hard to gauge the economic impact of the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry crisis, some businesses appear to be doing better than some had expected.
As part of the annual Town of Coupeville financial report, Mayor Nancy Conard recently examined sales tax figures that indicate that business hasn't been too bad since November 2007, when the Steel-Electric car ferries were pulled from service.
Using state Department of Revenue sales tax data, Conard looked at sales-tax receipts from nine Coupeville businesses. She compared sales tax collected between November 2007 and February 2008 to the amount collected during the same period in 2006 and 2007. Overall, the study showed that business was up about 5 percent.
"This is a very preliminary look, and I wouldn't draw conclusions from this," Conard said. "I think this is a reliable trend indicator, but it's not perfect."
Island County Economic Development Council Director Sharon Hart agreed that it's too soon to draw any conclusions about how the reduction in ferry service has affected local businesses or the rest of the county.
"It's too just too early to tell whether this is a trend, or that we have been truly affected by the ferries," Hart said.
Although Conard's numbers show that sales tax receipts grew, the question is whether they grew as much as was expected. Sales tax receipts in most healthy communities generally trend upward every year, Hart said.
For example, according to numbers from the state Department of Revenue's Web site, Coupeville sales tax collections rose 14 percent in 2005, 8.7 percent in 2006 and 9.9 percent in 2007.
Another variable in trying to evaluate the impacts of the ferry crisis is that the biggest impact took place during the winter, when fewer tourists are traveling, Hart said. The true impact of the ongoing ferry troubles won't be known until after receipts from the summer tourist season are in.
"This summer should be really telling," Hart said.
In the months since the Steel Electrics were retired, Coupeville and Central Whidbey business owners and business leaders have raised concerns about the impact on the local economy.
One merchant who was interviewed on a TV news show said sales at her business were down by 75 percent. A group representing local business interests went to Olympia during this year's legislative session to lobby for financial assistance to help reduce the long-term impacts of the ferry situation. The venture, along with efforts from local and state officials, resulted in the state granting $25,000 in tourism mitigation funds each to Coupeville and Port Townsend. Both communities spent the money on efforts to draw tourists, such as advertising, brochures and visitor guide magazines that highlight tourist attractions.
Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce Director Sarah Richards said they are inconsistent with the message delivered by merchants.
"That doesn't jibe with what people had been saying," Richards said.
Mike Gowrylow, spokesman for the state Department of Revenue, verified Conard's numbers with his research department. After running the numbers, he confirmed that retail overall rose 8.6 percent during the first quarter of 2008. However, food service and accommodations dropped 3.5 percent. Taken together, that's very close to the mayor's 5.1 percent estimate, he said.
However, both sets of numbers tell only part of the story. They focus specifically on retail businesses - ranging from gift shops to auto-repair businesses - and food and lodging establishments.
Conard's numbers are based on just nine local businesses. The Department of Revenue has 318 Coupeville retail businesses listed alone. Nearly half are listed under the "miscellaneous" category, which includes just about anyone with a business license.
Conard purposely left out businesses such as construction companies and electricians. They aren't related to tourism, and therefore would have been out of context concerning the ferry issue, she said. People in the building trades who are headed to jobs on either end of the route often use the Keystone ferry, however.
Making a comparison of how Coupeville has fared against other towns using Conard's numbers could not be made because 2008 first-quarter sales tax numbers are not yet available for every area. A comparison of fourth-quarter sales over the past two years showed that Coupeville businesses are doing better - but not by much.
Using only retail, food and lodging establishment sales records from the Department of Revenue's Web site, sales in Coupeville dropped 1.4 percent in 2006, but increased 0.68 percent in 2007.
The same trend held true in Port Townsend. Sales grew 3.4 percent in 2006 and 0.67 percent in 2007. Port Townsend merchants have been among the most vocal about reduced sales since the Steel Electrics were
Conard's comparison did not include businesses that closed in the past six months, a fact that troubles Richards. Including that data could provide a better look at the impact of the ferry crisis, she said.
But Conard pointed out that it's not unusual for small businesses in any community to close their doors. In Coupeville, she said, it's a good sign that storefronts don't remain empty for long, but are quickly filled with new businesses.
"I don't know if that's not just the nature of the beast," Conard said.
Gowrylow said his review of the numbers did include businesses that closed, and that it didn't change the overall result. What happened with restaurants and accommodations may be a better ferry impact indicator.
"The drop-off in restaurant and accommodations revenues in the first quarter may be most telling, as a lot of the other retail sectors such as building materials and auto parts don't seem very tourist-dependent," Gowrylow said.
Bonnie Roulstone, co-owner of the Knead and Feed retail shop, said revenue at her restaurant is up from years past, but it's not because more people are coming in to eat. She raised her restaurant prices 12 percent last year.
"That would affect [Conard's] numbers," Roulstone said.
Hart said she thinks it's difficult to attribute business failures to any one single factor. The businesses in question may have closed because of what happened with the Keystone ferry, but that doesn't mean they weren't already in trouble due to other factors.
"It's really a black art, trying to compare that," Hart said.
The Department of Revenue is expected to release additional sales statistics in the next few months, which could provide a clearer picture on what's happening. But with so many other factors affecting the local economy - including weather, fuel prices and concern over the possibility of a nationwide recession - it's hard to pinpoint the short-term impact of the reduction in ferry service.
How Washington's ferry system got into a mess with no easy fix in sight
Sunday, May 18, 2008
PORT TOWNSEND - Walk into almost any store along the waterfront here and you'll find owners worrying about the future. Tourism has been down, and so are profits.
They say business has suffered since the state abruptly scrapped its Steel Electric Class ferries late last year because of corroded hulls, leaving the town without a car ferry to Whidbey Island for more than two months. With summer approaching, partial service has been restored, but it could be years before things get back to normal.
Shop owners pin a lot of their troubles on one state agency: "The ferry system let us down," said Teresa Verraes, owner of an art shop, Artisans on Taylor.
The agency had spent years pursuing a plan to replace the 80-year-old Steel Electric boats, but it collapsed in the face of community opposition. When the boats were pulled, the only immediate backup was a smaller, passenger-only ferry.
A harrowing trip on the Steilacoom II
By Jim LarsenApril 30, 2008
Whidbey Island politicians and business people have questioned the suitability of the Steilacoom II for the Keystone to Port Townend ferry route, but none have ridden the boat during heavy seas and told about it.
A firsthand account of such a journey was phoned in this week to the Whidbey News-Times. Nan Laney, a Sedro-Woolley resident, read the News-Times April 23 online story about the safety of the ferry being questioned and called to tell about her experience.
Laney, 48, described herself as a veteran sea kayaker who spends several weeks each year on the open waters. In addition, she'??s ridden plenty of ferries in Washington and British Columbia. But the scariest trip she's ever taken occurred on her ride across Admiralty Inlet on the Steilacoom II the afternoon of April 15.
State Oks two larger ferries for PT
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily NewsApril 29, 2008
The state has abandoned plans to build a new 50-car ferry for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
Instead, it will build two larger, more stable Island Home-class ferries, each capable of carrying almost 80 cars.
Pierce County has agreed to extend a lease on one of its ferries to early 2010, when the first of the Island Home boats is due to be delivered.
Gov. Chris Gregoire said the deal, finalized Monday after the possibility was first floated last Friday, was largely influenced by a recent tour of downtown Port Townsend businesses.
State to keep leasing ferries for Port Townsend and Whidbey Island
By Jerry Cornfield, The Everett HeraldApril 29, 2008
OLYMPIA -- A deal announced Monday won't change how ferry riders now travel between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island but may avert future problems for taxpayers.
Gov. Chris Gregoire endorsed the agreement allowing Washington State Ferries to continue leasing 50-car vessels from Pierce County for use on the run rather than proceeding to build its own boat of the same design.
This means the state will direct its efforts -- and an $85 million budget -- to constructing two Island Home-class vessels, each capable of carrying up to 80 vehicles. The lease with Pierce County will be extended until early 2010, when the first of those new boats is due to be delivered.
Port Townsend-to-Keystone route may get 2 larger ferries
By Tan Vinh, The Seattle TimesApril 27, 2008
Port Townsend and Whidbey Island residents may one day get their wish for two new, large ferries to run the Port Townsend-to-Keystone route instead of a smaller, 50-car ferry state officials had been talking about.
Washington State Ferries Director David Moseley said yesterday a deal could be reached early this week to lease two ferries to run between Port Townsend and Keystone until April 2010. Pending the approval of Gov. Christine Gregoire, the deal would buy time for the state to get the first new ferry built for the route.
Gregoire is on board with the idea, and "I am optimistic we can reach an agreement with Pierce County to lease their ferries," Moseley said.
If the deal is completed, the state would abandon its effort to build a 50-car ferry, a plan local residents oppose. The larger Island Home ferry is more stable and can hold up to 80 cars. Designed by Seattle's Elliott Bay Design, it's the type of ferry in use in New England between the island of Martha's Vineyard and the mainland.
Ferry building plan comes under fire
By Jim LarsenApril 25, 2008
Tenth District Republican Senate Candidate Linda Haddon is trying to sink state plans to build a clone of the Steilacoom II ferry in favor of building a larger boat.
Haddon, from Oak Harbor, is running against Camano Island Democrat Mary Margaret Haugen, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee.
"Look how many of these runs are canceled, it's crazy," Haddon told the News-Times Monday after issuing a news release calling for the ferry system to "abandon plans" for a copy of the Steilacoom II, which was brought in to serve the Keystone to Port Townsend route on a temporary basis.
The Steilacoom II, described by Haddon as a "toy boat," is a small ferry, holding only about 50 cars, and it's had numerous cancellations this winter and spring due to high winds and tidal conditions. Ferry officials, however, say the boat they leased from Pierce County has been performing well.
The state has $85 millio n set aside with which it hopes to build three ferries, one modeled after the Steilacoom II and two others after the larger "Island Home" class. Bids are being requested this week for the Steilacoom II copy, after the initial bidding process produced only one bid that was deemed too high: $29 million for a boat estimated to cost $20 million.
The deputy director of the state ferry system quits
By Scott North, Herald WriterTuesday, April 22, 2008
SEATTLE -- The deputy director of the state ferry system has announced her resignation.
Traci Brewer-Rogstad resigned Monday in a letter to her new boss, David Moseley.
She came to the ferry system in 1997 after managing operations for a small cruise line. In her letter to Moseley, Brewer-Rogstad wrote that she is proud to have helped lead Washington State Ferries "during some of the greatest challenges that WSF has ever faced. It is a good time for me to transfer my watch to others."
Can Moseley cut path through ferry troubles?
April 10, 2008 - 09:11 AM
The situation facing Washington state's new ferries chief could be likened to that of a paratrooper commander dropped into a chaotic battle zone with orders to get things under control in a hurry.
Barely two months on the job, Assistant Secretary of Transportation David Moseley is confronted with crises, big and small, that will more than challenge his reputation for repairing broken bureaucracies.
Not the least of the problems he faces is the urgency to build a new ferry that can serve the Keystone-Port Townsend route.
The state wants to build a modified version of the Pierce County ferry Steilacoom II, which it leased from the county to serve the Keystone-Port Townsend run for a year during which the new boat would be built, if all went according to plan.
The shallow approach to the Keystone dock requires shallow-draft b oats, like the four steel electrics removed from service in November because of safety concerns.
The whopping difference between State Ferries' estimated cost of that project and the bid put forth by Todd Pacific Shipyards added to Moseley's growing list of challenges.
Todd CEO Steve Welch wrote a convincing opinion piece in the Seattle Times this week explaining the company's position on the failed bid.
Welch suggested that the ferries' estimates were "much closer to a back-of-the-envelope calculation than the detailed bid documents" the company prepared. Given the disorganization and bureaucratic inertia that has plagued State Ferries for years, Welch's theory may not be far from the truth.
Moseley has the unenviable task of putting out brush fires like the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry issue and doing the hard work of shaking up an entrenched bureaucracy.
State Ferries may have to buy some time to get the bid process right. Officials are alread y looking at a potential need for a boat to cover the time gap between when a new boat is built and the end of the state's lease on the Steilacoom II in October of 2009.
Maybe one of those stalwart, 80-year-old steel electrics will have a few more Admiralty Inlet crossings left in its aged hull.
We must remember that the ferries are not a separate maritime fleet. They are, under state law, a part of the state highway system, like a road or a bridge - all part of a neglected transportation infrastructure.
A highway can still carry traffic, even if the roadbed is in poor condition as many are. But when a ferry is in a state of disrepair, it comes out of service, like a bridge that is condemned for structural flaws.
Let's hope that Moseley's vaunted ability to "fix" things is no exaggeration.
* Editorials reflect the consensus opinion of the editorial board and are written by its members: Publisher L. Stedem Wood, Editor Don Nelson and City Editor Dick Clever.
Seaquist Envisions Big Changes for Ferries
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Lawmakers should go beyond manipulating more riders onto existing ferries by adding more boats, Rep. Larry Seaquist said Tuesday.
The Gig Harbor Democrat, a member of a Joint Transportation Committee policy group on ferries, weighed in after the group heard a report Tuesday about level of service. Customers now should expect no more than a one-boat wait on most routes, two boats at Bainbridge-Seattle and Mukilteo-Clinton. Any more than that, and Washington State Ferries has responded by adding capacity. Ferry officials hope to delay that step, however, by "managing" traffic. They would employ such means as reservations, peak-period pricing, off-peak discounts, and increasing the difference between passenger and car fares to more fully use the boats they have.
State's ferry estimate doesn't add up
April 8, 2008
Special to The Times
Workers at Todd Pacific Shipyards inspect the hull of the ferry Quinault. Todd's bid for a new 50-car ferry for the Port Townsend-to-Keystone run was $9 million more than the state's estimate.It was disappointing news for the maritime industry that Washington state elected not to award a contract for a new 50-car ferry for the Port Townsend-to-Keystone run because the price came in $9 million more than the state's estimate.
The only thing worse for our industry would have been if any shipyard had agreed to build the vessel for what the state's consultant estimated it "should cost" - as that estimate was surely based on little more than guesswork and hope. The number was so far off it lacked credibility.
In contrast to a consultant's estimate, as a shipyard we have to live with our bid numbers. If we can't, our business is lost.
Senator Urges Shopping Elsewhere for New Ferries
Friday, April 4, 2008
Port Townsend-Keystone ferry riders could get a better boat if the Legislature would meet for a day and change state law, according to one state senator.
The idea has so far been met with silence from the governor's office, and at least one local legislator thinks it's a bad idea.
State Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, said Washington legislators could save the state money by removing a requirement that ferries be built in state. The Legislature passed a bill, Senate Bill 6794, in February that calls for construction of new ferries to replace the Steel-Electric boats the state Department of Transportation pulled out of service during the fall.
State agency rejects ferry bid as too costly
Published: April 4th, 2008 01:00 AM | Updated: April 4th, 2008 08:00 AM
State ferry officials have rejected a $26 million bid to build a 50-car ferry that's supposed to take over on the Port Townsend-Keystone run.
They plan to revise the project's specifications in hopes a builder will submit a lower bid.
"The tab to taxpayers is too high," Washington State Ferries chief David Moseley said Thursday in a news release announcing the decision to reject the only bid that was submitted. "We will find solutions to bring down the construction costs."
Ferries chief promises to look at "all options" for Keystone car ferry
Published: April 4, 2008
The sole bid to build a new ferry for the Keystone route came in $9 million more than anticipated because the vessel proposed by the state is significantly different from the design originally envisioned.
The vessel was to have been modeled after the Steilacoom II, the Pierce County ferry rented by Washington State Ferries to temporarily operate on the route. But to make the vessel safer and more functional for use on storm-tossed Admiralty Inlet, WSF asked for a number of changes.
The result, according to Todd Pacific Shipyards CEO Stephen Welch, is a much more expensive boat.
State to rebid ferry construction
Todd Pacific Shipyards' $26 million bid rejected as too high
Last updated April 3, 2008 9:16 p.m. PT
After rejecting a $26 million bid from Todd Pacific Shipyards to build a 50-car ferry, Washington State Ferries will try again to solicit bids and complete the new boat by the summer of 2009.
State officials said Thursday that Todd's bid, which was $9 million more than the ferry system had estimated, was too high. While it will not award a contract at this point, the system plans to advertise for more bids and award a contract by mid-May, said the system's chief executive, David Moseley.
Todd Chief Executive Steve Welch said Thursday that company officials "don't believe the state's estimate was an accurate estimate."
State to revise ferry project in hope of attracting a lower bid
Published: April 3rd, 2008 12:59 PM
State decides to reject the only bid that came in
State ferry officials have rejected a $26 million bid to build a 50-car ferry that's supposed to take over on the Port Townsend-Keystone run.
They plan to revise the project's specifications in hopes a builder will submit a lower bid.
"The tab to taxpayers is too high," Washington State Ferries chief David Moseley said today in a news release announcing the decision to reject the only bid that was submitted. "We will find solutions to bring down the construction costs."
Next move on new ferry unclear
After a bid for a new ferry came in $9 million more than expected, officials are weighing options including scrapping the smaller boat.
Published: April 2, 2008
OLYMPIA -- State ferry officials are scrambling for options after a bid for a new 50-vehicle ferry came in $9 million higher than anticipated.
They are studying if it is possible to negotiate a lower price for the new boat, possibly through change orders.
They are weighing whether to reject the bid and instead pursue building two to three larger ferries of the Island Home design, which carry about 75 vehicles.
Reviving rusted 80-year-old ferries not an option, Hammond says
Published: April 1, 2008
OLYMPIA - State ferry officials are scrambling for options after a bid for a new 50-vehicle ferry came in $9 million higher than anticipated.
They are studying if it is possible to negotiate a lower cost for the new boat, possibly through change orders.
They are weighing whether to reject the bid and instead pursue building two to three larger ferries of the Island Home design.
Keystone ferry contract gets just one bid
The proposal for a boat for the Keystone run is $9 million more than expected.
Published: Friday, March 28, 2008
SEATTLE -- The state's effort to build a new 50-car ferry for the Keystone-to-Port Townsend route hit rough waters Thursday when only one shipbuilder submitted a bid for the contract.
And that bid came in $9 million higher than anticipated.
Todd Pacific Shipyards of Seattle proposed a price of $25,985,125 to build a boat using the basic design of the leased Steilacoom II-class vessel now in use on the route.
First bid on new ferry is $9 million over estimate
Todd Shipyards puts 50-car vessel's price at $26 million
Last updated March 27, 2008 11:11 p.m. PT
Todd Pacific Shipyards of Seattle has submitted a bid to build a 50-car vessel for Washington State Ferries, transportation officials said Thursday.
But Todd's proposed bid price of $25,985,125 to construct a ferry based on the Steilacoom II design was higher than the $16.8 million estimated by state engineers.
State Transportation Department officials said the nearly 90-year-old ship-repair and boat builder, based on Harbor Island, is the only respondent so far to a formal bidding process that opened today.
1 bid to build Port Townsend ferry - and it's $9 million over state's estimate
Published: Thursday, March 27, 2008
Bid on the new 50-car Port Townsend-Keystone ferry
State engineer's estimate: $16,895,161
Todd Shipyards bid: $25,985,125
Washington State Ferries
The sole bid for building a new 50-car ferry to run between Port Townsend and Keystone came in at least $9 million over the state's estimate today.
State Accepting Bids for New PT-Keystone Ferry
PROJECTED DELIVERY DATES FOR NEW FERRIES
May 2009: Steilacoom II-class ferry for the PT-Keystone route
June 2010: Island Home-class ferry for the PT-Keystone route
December 2010: Island Home-class ferry for the PT-Keystone route
January 2011: 144-car ferry for the San Juan Islands
Summer 2011: 144-car ferry for the Bremerton-Seattle route
January 2012: 144-car ferry for the Mukilteo-Clinton route
The state will announce next week which shipyard will build a 50-car ferry for the Port Townsend-Keystone route. The vessel, similar to the leased Steilacoom II that is serving the run on an emergency basis, would be delivered in May 2009.
Ferry Chief Focused on the ?Basics'
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
After only two weeks on the job, David Moseley has found the work of directing the state ferry system akin to that of a juggler and jigsaw puzzler.
"We have a very big challenge," Moseley told a crowd of ferry riders on Bainbridge this week. "But we're juggling around the puzzle we have now."
Making Moseley's job especially tough is maintaining ferry service when many ferries are out of service. Four 80-year-old boats were retired late last year and several others need emergency repairs. The shrinking fleet has forced Washington State Ferries to trim sailing schedules and rely on smaller vessels.
EDITORIAL: Taking Bites Out of Ferry Problems
Published: March 6, 2008New state ferries chief David Moseley has been described as a "problem-solver" and "fixer."
He'll find ample use for those talents at Washington State Ferries. There are abundant repairs to make with the agency, the boats and relations with their riders.
Moseley says he's approaching his new job like eating an elephant, one bite at a time. His first "bite" will getting a March 20 bid for construction of a new ferry for the Port Townsend-Keystone run. It will be the first of six new ferries to be built in four years - the result of long-term problems with legislative funding, lawsuits and internal leadership that have plagued the system for years.
New Ferries Leader Plans to Take It One Boat at a Time
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time.
That's the approach David Moseley says he'll take in trying to turn around a problematic state ferry system.
Old ferries at heart of Martinac's feud with state
Company alleges state delayed building new boats because of leases on the Steel Electrics.
Published: Monday, March 3, 2008
SEATTLE -- Questions about the legality of obscure leases that for two decades turned Washington's oldest ferries into floating tax shelters remain a source of friction as lawyers for the state and a Tacoma shipbuilder begin trying to negotiate an end to a messy federal lawsuit.
Lawyers for the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. and the state are scheduled Thursday to meet with federal mediators, said Bryce Brown, chief assistant attorney general in the state's transportation and public construction division.
Aging boats bring rough waters for nation's largest ferry system
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. (AP) Starved of money for nearly a decade, the nation's largest ferry system has hit rough water.
The ferries that cruise the waters of Puget Sound have become symbols of the Pacific Northwest, recalling its rich maritime history and figuring prominently in movies and television shows such as "Grey's Anatomy." But beneath their cheery green-and-white paint scheme, the aging ferries are rusty, old and unreliable.
Some boats have been yanked from service for repairs. Routes have been canceled and schedules thrown off. Washington state commuters are frustrated.
"We have a love-fear relationship with the ferries. It's our highway and there's always massive uncertainty," said Pete Gillis, 38, as he caught a ride to Bainbridge Island in Puget Sound, en route to Port Townsend, north of Seattle.
The system's problems date back to 1999, when voters repealed a vehicle-registration tax that provided much of the money to build, maintain and operate ferries. That caused fare increases, cuts in service and delays in maintaining and replacing boats.
"We had this aging, deteriorating fleet that was ignored and put on the back burner," said Democratic state Rep. Sherry Appleton, whose district west of the Seattle mainland includes three ferry runs.
State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond says relief is on the way in the form of 13 new boats to be built over the next 20 years.
"We've allowed the system to limp along, ignoring the long-term consequences," she said. "We were delaying the inevitable, and now we see the problem square in the face."
The Washington ferry system hauls 24 million passengers each year, about a quarter of all U.S. ferry passengers. Its 24 vessels range from a tiny boat that links Tacoma to Vashon Island, to a tourist-friendly international run that winds through the scenic San Juan Islands to Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
On upscale Bainbridge Island, thousands of commuters take the ferry to work in downtown Seattle, filling boats that can carry 2,500 passengers on each 30-minute crossing.
For many riders, it's a pleasant time for drinking coffee and reading the morning paper. Some catch up on work using free wireless Internet access. Others just catch a few extra winks.
It's not cheap, even though the state subsidizes the system. A walk-on passenger pays $6.70 a day ; $134 a month, minus commuter discounts. Driving a car onto the ferry costs $11.55 each direction, or $460 a month for 20 workdays.
But many commuters cheerfully swallow those prices, making up the difference on cheaper real estate across the water from pricey Seattle.
Riders interviewed on a recent rainy day appreciate the convenience of the ferries, but they have grown impatient with the service disruptions and with fares that have soared 70 percent over the past seven years.
"We love our ferries and would love them more if our lives didn't depend on them so much," said Phil Herbert, 66, a retired farmer from Port Townsend. "It's taking longer and longer to get places."
Canceled runs and uncertain schedules also play havoc with truckers, especially those hauling perishable products, forcing them to use longer land routes or shift to more distant ferries.
The problems can hurt tourism and business, too. When auto ferry service was canceled to Port Townsend, business plummeted in the Victorian village, which serves as gateway to the vast Olympic Peninsula. Some islanders grouse about being unable to attend concerts or other events in Seattle because of poor nighttime ferry service.
Commuter ferries are often newer boats with comfy lounges and serving wine, sushi, microbrews and designer coffee. But riders on the less-frequent routes endure decades-old boats that are creaky, dingy and prone to breakdowns.
After the 1999 tax vote, lawmakers eventually came up with $350 million to build four new "superferries" that could carry 144 vehicles and 2,500 passengers.
But five years later, those vessels are still on the drawing board because of legal battles with shipbuilders and political squabbles over the size of the boats.
Meanwhile, the fleet gets older. Some boats date to the 1920s, and others are more than 40 years old.
Just before Thanksgiving, state officials pulled the four oldest vessels out of service, fearing they were no longer safe after inspectors found corrosion and cracks in the hulls.
The Legislature approved spending $100 million to build three replacements that can carry 50 to 80 cars. Design work is also under way on three more superferries.
The ferry agency also is being reorganized to repair the system's battered reputation.
The new ferry chief is David Moseley, 60, who spent most of his career as an administrator for Seattle and other cities. With no maritime background, Moseley was purposely chosen to reform the agency.
"The ferries are not just a Washington state icon. They're a lifeline for people," Moseley said.
But Pete Gillis, the commuter riding from Bainbridge to Port Townsend, is among those who remain skeptical.
"People's faith has really taken a big blow in the last couple of years," he said. "I don't have a lot of faith that it will improve."
Gregoire signs $100 million bill to build three new ferries
Published: February 14th, 2008
... the Legislature's fast-track handling of the procurement bill comes on the heels of the hiring of a new director for the ferry system, David Moseley. One of his charges is to develop a schedule for maintenance and regular replacement of the vessels.
Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, who represents a ferry-dependent district, called the procurement bill "an important first step toward fixing our neglected ferry system. I'm looking forward to getting appropriate vessels on the Keystone-Port Townsend run, as well as holding Washington State Ferries accountable for its operations and maintenance plans."
Bozeman: Beleaguered Bremerton Ferry Riders Are �Boiling Up and Boiling Over'
Published: February 13th, 2008
Edwards cited Gregoire's hiring of David Moseley last week as the Department of Transportation's assistant secretary for ferries and her signing of a bill Thursday morning authorizing up to three new small ferries as steps in the right direction.
After sending out his e-mail Monday, Bozeman heard from lawmakers and Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. He explained to her why Bremerton riders feel picked on. The route always seems to get the short stick, he said, and service has deteriorated over the years.
In Our View: Fix the ferries
Published: February 12th, 2008
Chris Gregoire believes the right �lifeguard� has been picked to rescue the system, recently announcing David Moseley as the new director of the system under the Washington State Department of Transportation. He was selected from 64 applicants.
Dino Rossi, Gregoire�s likely opponent in the November election, will be looking over Moseley�s shoulder every step of the way, eager to point out what he perceives as any missteps.
New state ferry chief ready for a ride
Published: February 6th, 2008
David Moseley's first order of business is riding the boats. A lot.
"I want to talk to the riders," said Moseley, 60. "I'm going to be listening to people. You don't need to give them much reason to be cynical."
Ferry system has new skipper
Published: February 6th, 2008
David Moseley, 60, a veteran of government service and nonprofit leadership, has been named chief of the nation's largest ferry system. The decision was made by state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond and supported by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Moseley joins a ferry system in turmoil after problems with corroding steel on aging vessels have raised questions about the fleet's management and safety. Ferry service has been disrupted around Puget Sound since Hammond's Nov. 20 decision to pull four Steel Electric-class ferries out of concern over cracks and corrosion in their 1927-vintage hulls. The vessels have since been retired, and the ferry system has struggled to meet stepped-up Coast Guard demands for inspection and repairs on the rest of the fleet.
Leased car ferry begins sea trials across treacherous Admiralty Inlet
Published: February 6th, 2008
PORT TOWNSEND - The MV Steilacoom II landed without fanfare early Monday afternoon at the Port Townsend ferry terminal.
Then the car-passenger ferry rented by the state from Pierce County picked up some crew for training and launched into a week of sea trials on Admiralty Inlet and Port Townsend Bay.
"We had a very smooth trip, and this boat handles very well," said chief mate Tom Dennis, who briefly stepped off the 50-car Steilacoom II, which sailed up from the Washington State Ferries maintenance yard at Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island.
Wash.: Governor Names State Ferry Chief
Published: February 5th, 2008
Hammond and Moseley planned to meet ferry riders in Seattle later Tuesday. Hammond chose Moseley after a national search and the governor agreed to the hiring and made the announcement at state Department of Transportation headquarters.
The top legislative transportation leaders, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, and Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, attended the announcement and endorsed Moseley's selection.
Gregoire said in an interview that she was looking for a top-notch manager who can work with employees to make changes and start building the new vessels.
WA gov picks Moseley as state ferry chief
Published: February 5th, 2008
Chris Gregoire has picked a new boss for the embattled Washington state ferry system. He's David Moseley, a former state agency director, top legislative aide and the city manager for three cities.
Moseley will succeed Mike Anderson, who retired in December.
New Ferry Leader Asked to Bring City Smarts to Waterways
Published: February 5th, 2008
"We have a great (DOT) team now, but the ferry system has been left out for far too long," Gregoire said. "We need to bring in that part of the department and make it part of the team. It is a highway over the water. It needs to be seen as part of the transportation system."
The shift can be by glimpsed in Moseley's title. He is the ferry division assistant secretary for DOT, not the director of Washington State Ferries.
Gregoire picks David Moseley to manage ferry system
Published: February 5th, 2008
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Gov. Gregoire has named a veteran government manager to head the Washington ferry system.
David Moseley is a former city manager of Federal Way, Steilacoom and Ellensburg with experience in state government.
David Moseley selected as new ferries director
Published: February 5th, 2008
OLYMPIA � Washington State Ferries has a new director: David Moseley, a former head of community development in Seattle, and a former city manager in Federal Way, Steilacoom and Ellensburg, among several other civic positions.
He most recently worked as vice president for the Institute for Community Change in Seattle, a nonprofit organization that helps foundations, nonprofits and governments manage initiatives.
Port Townsend-Keystone car ferry service may resume Saturday
Published: February 5th, 2008
PORT TOWNSEND � Car-ferry service could resume as soon as Saturday on the Port Townsend-Keystone run.
The 50-car Steilacoom II is undergoing sea trials this week on Admiralty Inlet. The state is leasing the ferry from Pierce County.
The Port Townsend-Keystone route has had only passenger service since November when Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond pulled four 80-year-old Steel Electric class ferries out of service because of hull corrosion.
Gov. Gregoire has asked the Legislature to spend $100 million for three new ferries, modeled after the Steilacoom II.
Transportation leadership lacking
Published: January 27th, 2008
The public wants transportation solutions, with the number-one priority being congestion relief. Many also want effective, affordable transit. Yet our transportation leaders do not believe or support this.
Are our leaders deaf? Do they not hear what the people want? Or do they just not care? I find it ironic that Gov. Christine Gregoire is being hailed as a great leader for ordering an emergency replacement for ferries that were condemned years ago. The U.S. Coast Guard had to declare the boats permanently unsafe before the governor would finally take action.
In 2003, the Republican budget authorized $285 million to replace the oldest Steel Electric ferries. At first, the Department of Transportation wanted boats so large it needed new docks. Ultimately, nothing was done and no one was ever held accountable.
The governor's current plan to replace the ferries will actually cause more problems than it solves. The $20 million ferries are too small. They will not handle the rough waters on the stormy Keystone-Port Townsend route. Service will be shut down much more often because of high winds than if the boats that the Legislature funded in 2003 had been bought.
Pressure from Coast Guard scrutiny pushed state to dock ferries
Publsihed: January 21st, 2008
State officials pulled Washington�s oldest ferries from service Nov. 20 not only because of safety concerns, but also out of worry that the Coast Guard would take that step first if one more problem surfaced in the 80-year-old hulls.
E-mails, memos and othe r communication among Washington State Ferries staff late last year provide glimpses into how the agency wrestled with mounting questions about the safety of the 1927-vintage Steel Electric-class ferries.
A recurring theme in the documents, recently released under public records laws, is the pressure faced by ferry officials due to stepped up Coast Guard scrutiny.
That same level of Coast Guard review is now being applied to the rest of the state's ferry fleet.
Officials last week warned ferry users to expect continuing travel headaches as nine boats, roughly half of the remaining fleet, are squeezed into limited dry docks for mandatory inspections or repairs before the end of spring.
"I think there will be disruption around the system," state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said, adding she hopes to provide passengers with more notice of challenges than has been the case in recent months.
Pressure, concerns led state to pull ferries
Coast Guard scrutiny detailed in documentsPublished: January 20th, 2008
SEATTLE -- State officials pulled Washington's oldest ferries from service Nov. 20 not only because of safety concerns, but also out of worry that the Coast Guard would take that step first if one more problem surfaced in the 80-year-old hulls.
E-mails, memos and other communication among Washington State Ferries staff late last year provide glimpses into how the agency wrestled with mounting questions about the safety of the 1927-vintage Steel Electric-class ferries.
A recurring theme in the documents, recently released under public records laws, is the pressure faced by ferry officials due to stepped up Coast Guard scrutiny.
That same level of Coast Guard review is now being applied to the rest of the state's ferry fleet.
Officials last week warned ferry users to expect continuing travel headaches as nine boats, roughly half of the remaining fleet, are squeezed into limited dry docks for mandatory inspections or repairs before the end of spring.
Ferry Scramble Traced to a Bit of Bad Steel
Published: January 20th, 2008
Good paint on bad steel.
Those five words, delivered recently by state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, encapsulate Washington State Ferries' predicament.
The more paint workers chipped away, the more damage they uncovered. Bad steel forced four ferries to be retired and is sending four others to dry dock for emergency repairs. The moves, combined with the agency's busy winter maintenance schedule, have left WSF short of working boats and forced inconvenient changes on the Seattle-Bremerton and Fauntleroy-Vashon Island-Southworth routes.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
Ferries receive intense scrutiny from both WSF and Coast Guard inspectors, so how could they have missed the corroded, cracked and pitted steel that put an end to the 80-year-old Steel-Electric ferries?
Each vessel must pass an annual Coast Guard certificate of inspection. It's an overall look primarily at life-saving equipment and the top side, said Lt. Cmdr. Todd Howard, chief of vessel inspections for the Coast Guard in Seattle. The inspections don't include a detailed examination of the hulls. That occurs when the ferry is in dry dock, which the Coast Guard requires twice every five years.
State Ferries: A sinking system
Published: January 19th, 2008
It seems our ferry system goes from bad to worse month after month.
Last Monday, the Seattle P-I reported (READ MORE >) that the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route was, and will continue to be, hit by serious delays because of the removal of a damaged vessel. This leaves folks in the lurch or in long lineups for the next month, neither of which should have happened, but did because we're told that the "significant" corrosion found on the ferry was previously unreported.
We were told the week before, on Jan. 9, that the 54-year-old Evergreen State ferry, which carried 87 cars and 983 passengers on the San Juan Islands inter-island route, would be out of service until April. It was to be replaced a week later with the Hiyu, which carries 34 cars and 200 passengers.
And just as we started to wonder what the other potential 783 passengers could do (aside from investing in wet suits and swimming lessons), we learned a week later that the Hiyu was found to have a leak as well as a seriously corroded hull -- as in 80 percent to 90 percent of its parts -- which meant it had to be dry-docked until Feb. 6.
No ferry hearings, key lawmakers say
Committee leader Mary Margaret Haugen says she suspects incompetence, not fraudPublished: January 11th, 2008
State lawmakers will not be conducting hearings anytime soon into whether ferry system employees should be punished for their actions preceding the November decision to pull the Steel Electric vessels from service.
The leaders of the Senate and House transportation committees said they will not use time during the upcoming session to figure out why lawmakers were not kept fully informed of the deteriorating condition of the 80-year-old boats.
Meanwhile, more problems are coming from below decks within the state's ferry fleet. Key state transportation leaders on Thursday were told that hull repairs must be made swiftly on four other vessels.
3-week wait for car ferry
If all goes according to plan, in three weeks a car ferry will again be sailing out of Keystone Harbor.Published: January 19th, 2008
Washington State Ferries was due to take possession of the Steilacoom II, which is operated by Pierce County, Friday afternoon.
Workers will now spend the next couple of weeks modifying the vessel. Crews will also have to be trained and then discover how the vessel handles through the narrow and challenging Keystone Harbor.
The Steilacoom II is a 216-foot vessel that can hold approximately 50 cars and approximately 325 passengers. It isn�t as large as the Steel Electrics, which could hold approximately 64 vehicles and 617 passengers.
Ferry officials had hoped to have car ferry service restored by the end of January. Plans changed because Pierce County wanted to make sure its remaining ferry, the Christine Anderson, was in top shape, said Marta Coursey, spokeswoman for Washington State Ferries.
Ferries kindling a political firestorm
The Daily Herald, December 16th, 2007In the days leading up to Gov. Chris Gregoire's decision to retire the state's Steel Electric-class ferries, Paula Hammond left no doubt that bigger changes are on the horizon for Washington State Ferries. The state's new transportation secretary knows many people consider ferry leadership to be as shaky as the 80-year-old boats Hammond ordered tied up Nov. 20 because of safety concerns. Embarrassed state lawmakers -- many of whom had been assuring people for years that all was well below decks on the boats -- are circling for blood.
It gets worse: State may owe $2.7M on scrapped ferries
Published: Monday, December 17, 2007
The state may have to pay millions of dollars to two Midwest companies that years ago bought depreciation rights for the four Steel Electric ferries that are being scrapped.
Between 1983 and 1995, state ferries received money from three private corporations for the transfer of tax benefits on nine ferries, including the four Steel Electrics.
Gregoire plan: 3 new ferries
Published: Friday, December 14, 2007 - Page updated at 12:29 AM
Gov. Christine Gregoire has proposed spending $100 million to replace four aging Steel-Electric Class ferries with three new boats.
The governor said $64 million would come from $350 million set aside for construction of other boats, and $36 million would be from money appropriated for the Mukilteo ferry terminal.
The design and construction of the boats would be on an expedited schedule. Gregoire said she hopes they could be built in 14 months.
Meanwhile, Pierce County has agreed to loan one of its boats to Washington State Ferries, beginning in January, to resume car service between Keystone and Port Townsend.
"This was an emergency situation, and we're able to be of assistance," said Ron Klein, aide to Pierce County Executive John Ladenberg.
Under the arrangement, Washington State Ferries will have to provide an emergency backup boat for the Pierce County ferry, the 13-year-old Christine Anderson, and will pay an undetermined amount of money to lease the boat.
Officials say it will take until January to put the ferry into service on the run after making sure it can operate in the narrow, shallow Keystone harbor.
Old ferries even worse than feared
Fixing 80-year-old boats needs added time, moneyPublished: Saturday, December 8, 2007
SEATTLE -- There is more bad news for Washington's oldest ferries.
Emergency repair work on the Quinault and Illahee, both 80-year-old Steel Electric-class ferries, is turning up far more corrosion than state officials expected.
On the Quinault alone, up to 45 percent of the hull steel has now been deemed beyond repair and in need of replacement, Hadley Greene, communications manager for Washington State Ferries, said Friday evening.
Crews have been working on the vessel nonstop for about three weeks and have been encountering more problems at every step.
Ideas, but no easy solutions, at ferry summit
Published: Saturday, December 8, 2007
BREMERTON -- Question: What is Washington State Ferries' favorite route?
Answer: Not mine.
If ferry riders have anything in common, they all think their route is getting the short end of the stick. Leaders from disparate ferry communities, which compete for limited ferry resources, tried to put those differences aside Friday and focus on common needs.
Cost to fix aging ferries higher than expected
Published: Saturday, December 7, 2007
SEATTLE -- There is more bad news for Washington State Ferries.
Emergency repair work on the ferries Quinault and Illahee has turned up more problems than expected, and fixing the 80-year-old vessels is now expected to take more time and cost millions of dollars more than even recently estimated, said Traci Brewer-Rogstad, the department's deputy executive director.
The state had hoped to have the two Steel Electric-class vessels returned to service by February.
That now appears unlikely because of the scope of the work, Brewer-Rogstad said late today.
Crews carefully replace old ferry's keel
The repair work may return the Quinault to service on the Keystone route by February.Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2007
SEATTLE -- On a damp, noisy dock at Todd Pacific Shipyards, delicate surgery is under way on an 80-year-old patient.
Crews are cutting out corroded 1927-vintage riveted steel plates still found deep inside the ferry Quinault. Bit by bit, the moribund metal is being tossed into waste bins, and new hull steel is being welded into its place.
The $4 million operation, if successful, will completely replace the ailing ferry's keel, Steve Welch, chief executive officer at Todd Shipyards, said Monday.
Old ferries pulled from service; Keystone-Port Townsend run closed
The state's oldest ferries were pulled from service Tuesday, right before the Thanksgiving holiday rush, amid mounting concerns over cracks, leaks and corrosion in their 80-year-old hulls.
State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said all four Steel Electric-class ferries -- the Klickitat, Quinault, Illahee and Nisqually -- will remain tied up indefinitely until problems within their hulls can be fully identified and, if feasible, repaired.
A long, frustrating drive
KINGSTON -- Riders on an early-morning ferry run from Kingston to Edmonds on Wednesday voiced frustration with long detours caused by the state's decision to pull from service four of its oldest boats.
Service was halted Tuesday evening on the run between Keystone on Whidbey Island and Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. That forced travelers on the day before Thanksgiving -- traditionally the busiest travel day of the year -- to spend even more time on the road.
Whidbey shipbuilder offers swift solution for ferry crisis
Nichols Bros. says it could deliver a 54-car boat within a year for Keystone routePublished: November 27th, 2007
SEATTLE -- A Whidbey Island shipbuilder that has faced rough sailing in recent weeks on Monday gave some state officials hope there may be a swift way to end the crisis surrounding leaking 80-year-old ferries.
Travelers vent frustrations about ferry detours
Published: November 27th, 2007
SEATTLE - Ferry riders on an early-morning run from Kingston to Edmonds Wednesday voiced frustration with long detours caused by the state ferry system's decision to pull from service four of its oldest ferries.
Ken and Mary Stanfill who live near Sequim said their trip to visit their daughter in Sedro-Woolley will now take hours longer and mean more driving on congested stretches of I-5.
"Why did they wait so long to do something about it? They've been having problems for so long," Ken Stanfill said.
Ferry fiasco: It never should have happened
Published: November 25th, 2007
The frustration and anger of ferry riders whose route between Whidbey Island and the Olympic Peninsula was shut down on Tuesday is completely warranted. It never should have come to this.
Warnings that such a day would come weren't taken seriously enough. In a classic pay-me-now or pay-me-later scenario, state officials took an irresponsible gamble by putting off the inevitable replacement of four 1927-vintage Steel Electric ferries, the only boats small and nimble enough to operate in narrow Keystone Harbor. The payment for a long-term solution has now come due -- payable immediately.
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, who chairs the Transportation Committee and whose district includes Whidbey Island, aptly compared the loss of the route to a bridge going down.
Report omits ferries' defects
State lawmakers were told the 80-year-old boats were in "good condition," but cracks and other damage went unreported.Washington State Ferries provided an incomplete picture of problems on its oldest vessels when it briefed state lawmakers late last month about detailed inspections of the 80-year-old hulls.
Ferry officials told the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee in an Oct. 30 report that the state's four Steel Electric-class ferries are "generally considered to be in good condition."
Governor suggests changing course on ferries
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire said this morning she thinks some of the millions of dollars pledged toward building four new large car ferries should be used instead to fix or replace aging Steel Electric vessels taken out of service last Tuesday.
The state is currently negotiating with three shipyards on a $342 million contract to build four, 144-car ferries.
New hulls could save old ferries, expert says
Published: October 31st, 2007
SEATTLE -- Most of the state's leaky and aging Steel Electric-class ferries could be salvaged if they are cut apart and given new hulls, according to a naval architect hired by Washington lawmakers.
The operation could save taxpayers money and bring the 80-year-old ferries up to current safety standards, the consultant said.
Group says old ferries unsafe
Published: October 3rd, 2007
A government watchdog group on Tuesday accused Washington State Ferries of courting disaster by continuing to operate four 80-year-old ferries.
The state's four Steel Electric-class vessels have been beset this year by leaks, cracks and questions, and more than $3.5 million in unanticipated repairs. None meets Coast Guard standards in effect since the mid-1950s for watertight hull compartments.
The nonprofit Evergreen Freedom Foundation on Tuesday posted an item on its Web site describing the 1927-vintage ferries as "Washington state's Titanic."
"They are operating on Coast Guard waiver. This is a disaster waiting to happen," the group's president, Bob Williams, wrote.