WASHINGTON ISLAND FERRY LINE

Feature: Leaving Home

For many years the fortunes of the Great Lakes-based shipbuilders and naval architects was based solidly on the building level of the owners who were also based on the 94,000 sq. mi. of water that makes up the five Great Lakes. That is no longer as true a statement as it once was. While there are many projects in this area designed and build by Great Lakes firms for owners in the area, an impressive number of significant commercial market projects as varied as Staten Island, New York ferries and Gulf of Mexico crew/supply boats were designed and or built on the Great Lakes. The Big Ferries The Kennedy Class of double ended auto/passenger ferries is one of the most recognizable images of New York City. Every weeknight millions of people see one during the opening of the David Letterman Show. So when a contract came out to build three additional ferries of this class, the competitive fires within the U.S. boatbuilding market were stoked. When the dust settled, the contract was awarded to The Manitowoc Marine Group, the largest shipbuilder on the Great Lakes headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisc. The vessels are being built at the company's Marinette Marine facility in Marinette, Wisc. Manitowoc is building three of these 4,400 passeneger/30 auto ferries to replace the three built in the mid-1960's. Each will measure 310 by 70 ft. wide with a 13.6-ft.-draft.

Training to Test Response to Ferry Hijacking

On December 16th, the U.S. Coast Guard, Washington State Patrol, and Washington State Ferries will be conducting a joint agency training exercise in Yukon Harbor, southwest of Blake Island. The drill scenario incorporates a multi-agency response to a simulated ferry hijacking. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams from the Seattle Police Department, Kitsap County Sheriff’s office, and the Washington State Patrol along with the Washington State Ferries, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S

Mukilteo Dock/Cathlamet Investigation Report Finalized

Washington State Ferries announced the results of the investigation into the Cathlamet incident at Mukilteo on June 1st. At approximately 5:44 a.m. that morning, the Washington State Ferry MV Cathlamet, sailing from Clinton (on Whidbey island) to Mukilteo hit the north wingwall at over seven knots, causing $139,000 damage to the ferry and over $1 million in needed terminal repairs. Port Captain Mark McElwaine, lead investigator into the incident

BC Ferries Order WESMAR Thruster

WESMAR to supply BC Ferries, with a  dual prop, counter-rotating, bow thruster for the  T-Class Passenger/Car ferry 'M/V Tachek'. M/V Tachek transports cars and passengers among the popular Gulf Islands and the WESMAR Model V2-24, 150 HP AC system will enhance the 162-foot ferry’s maneuvering and docking capabilities, in the waters off Vancouver Island, where the growing traffic of pleasure and commercial vessels crowd the waters, particularly during tourist season.

Great Lakes Shipyard Reconstructs Put-In-Bay

Great Lakes Shipyard, a division of The Great Lakes Group, has completed all work required under contract with Miller Boat Line, Put-in-Bay, Ohio, to fabricate and install a new 40-ft mid-body extension in the passenger/vehicle ferry Put-in-Bay. The contract was awarded on August 17, 2009, and all work was completed at Great Lakes Shipyard facilities on the South Bank of the Old River Channel, on Cleveland's Cuyahoga River.

Tall Ships in Great Lakes Battle Bicentennial

18 Tall Ships from around the world to navigate into the Western Basin of Lake Erie for 'The Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial,' Aug. 29, 2013. From Norway to Duluth, Minnesota, the tall ships of the past now call ports from all over the world home.  With large crews, constant upkeep and a host of other responsibilities, unveiling these pristine wooden vessels is a massive undertaking. Floating on the horizon with what looks like a scene out of the film Master and Commander

USCG: Old Ferry Removed for Inspection

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is performing additional hull inspections on the 80-year-old Steel Electric Class vessels, which will temporarily affect the San Juan inter-island run. The 59-car Illahee has temporarily been removed from service awaiting the additional inspection, so the 87-car Evergreen State has taken its place serving the San Juan inter-island route. Starting July 15, the 34-car Hiyu will operate on the inter-island route for 1 week while the Evergreen State is at the

Construction of Second New WSDOT Ferry

Construction of the state’s second Kwa-di Tabil Class (64-car) ferry officially got underway April 19 at Todd Pacific Shipyards (Todd) in Seattle. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Secretary Paula Hammond and Assistant Secretary for Washington State Ferries (WSF) David Moseley were on hand to help Todd officials commemorate the event. Secretary Hammond struck the first arc weld on the keel signifying the start of construction of the second vessel of the class.

Major Ferry Design Projects for EBDG

Elliott Bay Design Group LLC (EBDG) has a number of major ferry design projects in progress with clients from across the country, including many repeat customers. In early 2008 the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT), Corpus Christi District selected EBDG to design a new 28-car ferry for service between Port Aransas and Harbor Island.  This short route forms the continuation of Texas State Highway 361 across the Corpus Christi Channel

Mukilteo, Washington – Multimodal Ferry Terminal

The Federal Transit Administration issued a Notice stating that it intends to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed development of a multimodal ferry terminal in Mukilteo, Washington. This development would allow for expansion of the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry route on Puget Sound. Comments on this project should be submitted by April 5. Source: HK Law