Washington State Ferry

WSF Bremerton on One-Boat Schedule

Washington State Ferries (WSF) announced that the Seattle/Bremerton ferry route is operating with one vessel after one of the route’s two vessels was pulled from service early in the morning on Feb. 8. The 144-car Yakima sustained damage and began taking on water after a hard landing and was immediately removed from service. The U.S. Coast Guard and Washington State Ferries are both conducting investigations into the incident. Details will be released when more information is known.

WSF Debuts Fee-Based WiFi

Beginning in late November, Washington State Ferries (WSF) and vendor Parsons Transportation Group will offer ferry customers an enhanced, fee-based wireless fidelity or Wi-Fi service. The improved service will include better connectivity on the vessels and the ability to connect while waiting at a terminal. The Edmonds/Kingston and Seattle/Bainbridge routes will have the new Wi-Fi service available in late November, followed by Mukilteo/Clinton and Seattle/Bremerton in December

HIYU to Return to Service

The 34-car M/V Hiyu, the smallest and most unique car ferry in the Washington State Ferry fleet, returns to the San Juan Islands inter-island route this Monday, July 16, for six days while the 88-car M/V Evergreen State goes into the yard for preparation and then completion of its required annual inspection by the United States Coast Guard. The Hiyu, which has two separate passenger cabins and no elevator, was the inter-island vessel in the summers of ’86 and ’88 and in the

Washington State Ferries Explores LNG as Fuel

“WSF burns more than 17 million gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel each year – and it’s our fastest growing operating expense. LNG has the potential to significantly reduce emissions and the cost of fuel,” said Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Assistant Secretary David Moseley. LNG as a fuel is a promising, but new technology. To ensure that the safety, security and operational challenges of such a move is handled in a responsible manner

Citizens Lobby to Keep Ferry

A campaign is being mounted to retain passenger-only ferry service between Port Townsend and Seattle, according to an AP report. Ridership has reportedly grown daily since the route was instituted after the state's only vehicle-and-passenger vessels that could operate on the Port Townsend-Keystone run were pulled from service last month for safety reasons. Riders have started a Web site, Seattle2PT.com, with an online petition for supporters to "unify and send a clear message to Washington

Washington State Ferries to Shift to Clean Fuel Initiative

Washington State Ferries (WSF)/Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will shift the entire ferry fleet to low-sulfur diesel fuel, test ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, and test biodiesel fuel—all steps that will improve air quality by reducing the amount of harmful substances in the ferries’ diesel fuel exhaust. The ferry system also has upgraded its vessels with more-efficient engines and made operational changes that have reduced fuel consumption and emissions

Snohomish is Launched

Washington State Ferries' newest ferry Snohomish was launched last month. It is now undergoing last-minute installations and sea trials before officially entering service on the Seattle/Bremerton route. The sleek ferry is the sister ship of Chinook, already in service on the Seattle/Bremerton route. With a few minor exceptions - the biggest being a new bow configuration so it can front load at auto ferry slips - Snohomish is a replica of Chinook.

State Unveils Future for Ferries

Washington State Ferries officials presented their idea of what the future holds for the Kingston ferry terminal. Ridership on the Kingston-Edmonds route is expected to increase by 70 percent in the next 25 years. Although vehicles will play a role in that increase, passenger-only service will likely see an even greater boost, the North Kitsap Herald reported. A third boat will be added to the Kingston-Edmonds route in the summer of 2010 and year-round in 2012

New WSDOT Ferry Salish in Sea Trials

The new Washington State ferry Salish is completing builder’s sea trials in Puget Sound. The vessel is expected to begin serving the Port Townsend-Coupeville route this summer, restoring full two-boat service to the route for the first time since 2007. Contractor Todd Pacific Shipyards is conducting sea trials to demonstrate the vessel to U.S. Coast Guard and WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) inspectors before WSF accepts delivery of the vessel

Damaged Ferry Towed

The Washington State ferry that was damaged after striking a dock has been towed to Eagle Harbor, Wash., for repairs. The ferry Yakima struck a dock adjacent to the Bremerton Ferry Terminal on its last run. The strike caused several fractures to the hull, some water intake and some structural damage. The fractures found in the hull were sealed by divers and the vessel was shored-up and dewatered. The vessel will need to be dry-docked