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Wsdot News

29 Feb 2024

Steve Nevey Tapped to Lead Washington State Ferries

Steve Nevey (Photo: WSDOT)

Steve Nevey has been selected to serve as assistant secretary for the Washington State Ferries Division, the state's Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar announced on Thursday. Nevey will succeed Patty Rubstello, who is stepping down as head of WSF after more than 33 years of service with the Washington State Department of Transportation.A career mariner, Nevey progressed directly from high school to a maritime academy in the U.K. For the past two years he has served as director…

07 Dec 2023

The Next WSF Vessels Could Be Built Outside of Washington State

Š Chris Fabregas / Adobe Stock

The next newbuilds for Washington State Ferries (WSF) could be built by a shipyard outside of Washington as the state seeks to accelerate its ferry electrification program.The Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) WSF earlier this week issued a request for information to the shipbuilding industry across the country as part of its effort to contract for five new hybrid-electric Olympic-class ferries. Responses are due in January and will provide critical information for the Invitation for Bid in spring 2024…

17 Apr 2023

2023 US Shipbuilding Report

Philly Shipyard is currently building MARAD’s National Security Multi-Mission Vessels, which will serve as training ships for the nation’s state maritime academies. (Photo: Philly Shipyard)

Much has changed since Marine News’ 2022 shipbuilding report published in March last year, and business opportunities in certain market segments continue to grow. But the shipyards that are looking to cash in are still facing many of the same challenges.For example, many American shipyards and their partners throughout the shipbuilding supply chain are still finding it difficult to attract and retain the workers they need. If you’re a skilled craftsperson looking for a job in shipbuilding, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of openings at shipyards across the country.

14 Jun 2022

Washington State to Rebid Hybrid-electric Ferries Contract

Chimacum is one of Washington State Ferries' four Olympic Class vessels delivered by Vigor before it was awarded the Hybrid Electric Olympic Class contract. (Photo: Stuart Isett / Vigor)

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will launch a competitive bid process for the construction of its next five hybrid-electric ferries after negotiations stalled with shipbuilder Vigor.Vigor, which has built a number of existing vessels for WSDOT's Washington State Ferries (WSF), is currently finalizing designs for the new ferry class and was also lined up to build the vessels, but the shipyard and WSDOT could not agree on price and other contract terms…

23 Oct 2019

Washington Gets Funds for Green Ferries

Washington State Ferries will begin the process of converting three Jumbo Mark II vessels from diesel to hybrid-electric power.The government agency that operates automobile and passenger ferry service in the U.S. state of Washington as part of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced Tuesday the state will receive $35 million from the federal Volkswagen settlement to retrofit the Tacoma, Wenatchee and Puyallup.The ferry system is the largest consumer of diesel fuel in the state with over 18 million gallons of diesel burned each year, and the three Jumbo Mark II ferries account for 26 percent of total fuel consumption. This step brings the state ferry system closer to meeting the goals outlined in Gov.

06 Sep 2018

Washington State Ferries Looks to Go Greener

Jumbo Mark II class ferry Wenatchee (Photo: Jim Culp / WSDOT)

Washington State Ferries has begun a project to transition the largest vessels in its fleet to cleaner hybrid-electric power.The three ferries in the operator's Jumbo Mark II class, the Tacoma, Wenatchee and Puyallup, were built from 1997 to 1999 at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle. Each vessel can carry up to 2,499 passengers and 202 vehicles, making them the largest in the Washington State fleet.The 460 footers are also the fleet's biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions.

23 Jan 2018

Autonomous Vessels: Modern Ferries Evolve

Credit: Stuart Isett for Vigor

Automated now; autonomous looms large in the center porthole. The word ‘autonomous’ is probably the maritime industry’s most frequently used term in the past year. The word, however, has a far different meaning than the similarly sounding “automated” – which means that certain processes are handled by machines, rather than by humans. Throughout 2017, industry thought leaders have been mulling over the new digital paradigms that are emerging including the ‘Internet of Things’ and/or the linkage of processes and machines – the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ – where devices talk to each other…

05 Jan 2018

Washington State Christens New Ferry Suquamish

Washington State’s new ferry Squamish was christened at Vigor's Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle, on January 4. (Photo: WSDOT)

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) christened Suquamish, its fourth Olympic Class auto/passenger ferry, to serve passengers on the Mukilteo/Clinton route beginning in 2019. The christening ceremony was held at Vigor's Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle, where the new 144-car ferry has entered the final stages of construction and preparation ahead of sea trials starting in mid-2018. In addition to summer operations on the Mukilteo/Clinton route, the new ferry will also serve as a maintenance relief vessel in the winter, filling in when other vessels are out of service.

07 Feb 2017

North American Ferries: Faster, Greener & Safer

(Photo: BC Ferries)

Domestic ferries adjust their business models to met regulatory pressures and exceed environmental standards with an eye towards improved service. And, not a minute too soon. In North America, stalwarts in the ferry business continue to shorten journey times compared to surface alternatives, while at the same time, bring accessibility to barrier and coastal islands that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Established stakeholders continually fine-tune their operations in a…

20 Jan 2017

WSF to honor crew for saving Captain’s life

Members of the media are invited to join in recognizing the Washington State Ferries (WSF) crew who saved their captain’s life after he collapsed at the helm of the Chetzemoka on Christmas Eve. WSF’s highly trained crew will be honored by Deputy Secretary of Transportation Keith Metcalf and the head of Washington State Ferries, Lynne Griffith. The crew will also be presented with Life Ring awards. The program will begin on Friday, Jan. 20, on the 10:55 a.m. sailing from Point Defiance to Tahlequah. Visuals: Against the backdrop of an iconic ferry ride’s scenery, the captain will personally thank his crew for their quick action and officials will award each of the crew members with a Life Ring award, an honor given to WSF staff whose actions help save lives.

05 Dec 2016

WSF Leader to Retire

Lynne Griffith joined the Washington State Department of Transportation as assistant secretary for the ferries division in September 2014. Today, she announced that she will retire from public service at the end of January. Ferries division Chief of Staff Elizabeth Kosa, who has served alongside Griffith, will act as Washington State Ferries’ leader while the department finalizes its next steps. During Griffith’s time at the helm of the nation’s largest ferry system, missed sailings due to lack of crew dropped nearly 70 percent over the previous 26-month period. She also secured funding for a forth 144 car Olympic Class ferry, the Suquamish, and built a new high-performing management team from the ground up.

14 Sep 2016

WSDOT Christens New Ferry Chimacum

WSF’s third Olympic Class vessel, M/V Chimacum, will will replace an older vessel on the Seattle/Bremerton route in 2017. (Photo: WSDOT)

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) christened Chimacum, the third Olympic Class vessel to join the Washington State Ferries (WSF) fleet. The ceremony took place at Vigor's Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle, and marked the vessel’s final stage of construction and its preparation for sea trials. In a traditional maritime ceremony, Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith broke a bottle of champagne to officially welcome the new ferry to the fleet. Gov.

19 Mar 2016

Newest Washington State Ferry: M/V Suquamish

On Wednesday, the Washington State Transportation Commission announced that the fourth ferry in our Olympic Class will be named Suquamish. Ferry names were suggested through a public process, and narrowed down to three for the Commission’s consideration. Suggestions are judged based on their statewide significance and representation of Washington’s image and culture. The name Suquamish was selected over Cowlitz or Sammamish. Suquamish is fitting because contemporary ferry routes traverse the historic Suquamish canoe travel corridors. The Commission reminded that the new ferry schedule begins this Sunday, March 20. Their website (http://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/) provides the correct sailing times! With this new season comes the return of service from Anacortes to Sidney, BC.

17 Jul 2015

WSDOT Ferry Fleet Banks on Back-up Vessels

In order to meet demand and keep the system moving, all available back-up Washington State Ferries vessels will be called into service while two larger ferries are out for emergency repairs between Monday, July 20, and Wednesday, July 22. WSF today announced the 202-vehicle Puyallup will be out of service for three days while crews inspect an engine that broke down Saturday, June 20. Additionally, the 48-year-old Elwha will be out of service for approximately four months for extensive repairs to a drive motor. “Adding two new Olympic Class vessels in the last year and a half allows us to call on our older ferries when we need them,” said WSDOT Assistant Secretary for Ferries Lynne Griffith.

16 Jul 2015

Washington Maintain Service with Back-up Ferries

Photo: WSDOT

In order to meet demand and keep the system moving, all available back-up Washington State Ferries vessels will be called into service while two larger ferries are out for emergency repairs between Monday, July 20, and Wednesday, July 22. WSF today announced the 202-vehicle Puyallup will be out of service for three days while crews inspect an engine that broke down Saturday, June 20. Additionally, the 48-year-old Elwha will be out of service for approximately four months for extensive repairs to a drive motor.

06 Apr 2015

SR 410 White River Bridge in Enumclaw Closed

The Washington State Department of Transportation has temporarily closed the State Route 410 White River Bridge after crews discovered damage to the bridge’s overhead support structure during a routine inspection early Saturday morning. The SR 410 White River Bridge has an arched steel overhead support structure, which is signed for 15 feet. The bridge strike occurred in the westbound lanes of the bridge. Low clearance warning signs are posted along the shoulder approaching the bridge. “WSDOT bridge inspection teams believe this bridge was damaged by an over-height load,” said Assistant Regional Administrator Dave McCormick. WSDOT has selected contractor PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. to do the repair work, which is estimated to cost $200,000 or more.

28 Sep 2014

New Assistant Secretary WSDOT Sets Her Priorities

"As I close out my first week as Assistant Secretary, I am looking forward to the days ahead serving the customers and employees of our nation’s largest ferry system. In the near term, my biggest priority will be maintaining our 99 percent service reliability. During my first 30 days I will be spending the majority of my time traveling around the system and meeting with employees, labor partners and shipyard contractors to become familiar with the daily workings of WSF. This week has already been busy. I had a safety briefing and overview of our security and emergency response facilities at WSF Headquarters and toured the Operations Center.

01 Sep 2014

FTA Approves WSF Ferry Terminal Plans

In the latest Washington State Ferries Weekly Update, Capt. George A. The 60-year-old Mukilteo ferry terminal is one step closer to replacement. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has signed a 'Record of Decision' allowing WSF to design and construct a new Mukilteo ferry terminal. Thank you to all of our project partners, consulting tribes, and the public for collaborating to reach this milestone. We’re looking forward to building a safe and efficient new terminal that opens the Mukilteo waterfront and improves multimodal connections. This week, we signed the 'Notice to Proceed' document for construction of the third Olympic-Class 144-car ferry. Work will begin late this year.

04 May 2014

WSDOT Applies For Six TIGER Grants To Improve Statewide Mobility

Washington’s citizens could see mobility improvements in highways, ferries and freight rail if the state’s three capital grant applications are selected to receive a portion of the $600 million available nationwide in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funds. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) also submitted three applications this week for planning proposals that support economic development, environmental resiliency and integrated transportation choices. Of the $600 million available in TIGER grant funds, $35 million is dedicated to transportation-facilities planning. Improve intersections adjacent to Interstate 82 in Benton County. Replace the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal in Snohomish County.

03 Jun 2014

New Olympic-class Ferry Joins WSF Fleet

Washington State Ferries says that the Olympic-class 'Tokitae' has joined its ferry fleet and will embark on its maiden public voyage on the Mukilteo/Clinton route this summer. When Washington State Ferries has accepted the Tokitae from builder/contractor Vigor Industrial, crews will begin operational drills, including training and familiarization aboard the vessel. Christened Tokitae (rhymes with ‘Polka-tay’), the new ferry’s name comes from a Coast Salish dialect meaning, “nice day, pretty colors.” It is the first of three funded Olympic class vessels designed to replace the aging 1950s-era Evergreen State Class ferries. “With three new 64-car ferries operating…

11 Aug 2014

Damage to Propulsion of WSF's 'Tacoma' Seems More Extensive

Interim Assistant Secretary WSDOT/Ferries Division, Capt. George A. Capacci, says that ongoing investigations suggest that damage to the ferry's propulsion system following a 29, July disabling breakdown may be more extensive than previously thought. "This week, WSF engineers, alongside vendor technicians from Siemens Global, Inc., continued to take part in an ongoing and thorough investigation into what went wrong in the Tacoma’s loss of propulsion power on July 29. Siemens believes the damage is more extensive than the initial review revealed. For this reason, Siemens will require additional time to complete their investigation and prepare a recommended repair plan. "This has been a challenging week for Washington State Ferries and the customers we serve.

17 Aug 2014

WSF Engineers Work 24/7 on Engine Repairs

Overnight engine repairs and a meeting with Ferry Advisory Committee executives are detailed In this excerpt from the latest 'Washington State Ferries Weekly Update', by Capt. George A. Capacci, Interim Assistant Secretary WSDOT/Ferries Division. WSF crews constantly monitor the mechanical and support systems on all of our vessels. This week, the Vessel Engine department and Eagle Harbor maintenance crews completed overnight repairs on several vessels, including the Walla Walla, Spokane, and the Hyak. These repairs included replacing internal bolts that secure the piston on one of the Walla Walla’s main engines; repairing a cracked exhaust expansion joint on the Spokane; and replacing a seal on the Hyak’s generator.

24 Aug 2014

Ferry 'Tacoma' Likely Out of Service Until December

Capt. George A. Capacci Interim Assistant Secretary WSDOT/Ferries Division reports in the 'WSF Weekly Update'  on the 'Tacoma' repair plan as follows: "This week, we received an initial update on the Tacoma repair plan from Siemens Marine Solutions. The report says a fuse blew in the vessel’s propulsion control system without indication to the operating engineers, triggering a chain of events that led to the power failure. We continue to review the cause of the incident. A Board of Inquiry, WSF’s highest level of investigation, convened this week and expects to complete their work once the vessel repair is complete. Preliminary findings show the Tacoma will be out of service until at least December 2014. Source: WSF Weekly Update