Port Townsend News

A classic 1930s-built boat with a storied history has been updated with a hybrid propulsion system from Transfluid.Originally built in 1937 in Tacoma, Wash., the Western  Flyer is most well known as the boat chartered by John Steinbeck in his 1940 expedition to the Gulf of California chronicled in The Log from the Sea of Cortez. Called “the most famous research vessel to ever have sailed”, the Flyer is a 77ft wooden fishing vessel that has been restored in Port Townsend, Wash. by the Western Flyer Foundation.The boat was recommissioned as a fishing vessel, and a showpiece for green technology.

Coast Guard pollution responders are responding to a report of a tug that sank at the Port Orchard Railway Marina in Port Townsend, Washington, Monday.Members from Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound's Incident Management Division are on scene overseeing the removal and containment of fuel discharged from the 65-foot tug Meagan M. The vessel is currently registered as a towing vessel; however the master claims it has been used in a strictly recreational capacity for the past two years.

Washington State Ferries, the nation’s largest ferry system, carried nearly 24.5 million passengers in 2017, its highest ridership since 2002. Ridership increased for the ninth consecutive year and was up by more than 250,000 over 2016. “We expect our ridership to continue to grow as more people move to Western Washington,” said WSF head Amy Scarton. “As part of the state highway network, the ferry system is a critical link between more affordable housing on the west side of the sound and key employment centers on the east side.

The new ferry Chimacum joined the Washington State fleet on Friday, April 7 as Washington State Ferries officially accepted the vessel from builder/contractor Vigor. The Chimacum will carry ferry riders on the Seattle/Bremerton route this summer after crews complete vessel outfitting, operational training and drills. Christened Chimacum, the new ferry’s name honors the Chemakum tribe’s gathering place, which is now the present day town of Chimacum near Port Townsend. “We’re excited to welcome the Chimacum to our fleet,” said Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary Amy Scarton.

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.

Crowley Maritime Corporation recently awarded Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to four seniors studying at the University of Washington’s (UW) Michael G. Foster School of Business. The students, Joshua Banks, Kainen Bell, Maninder Grewal and Xuan Liao, were each chosen to receive a $2,500 scholarship for the 2015-2016 academic year based on their demonstrated financial need, community involvement and leadership skills. Joshua Banks, a two-time Crowley scholarship recipient is currently studying finance and entrepreneurship at UW.

The Washington State Ferries (WSF) summer 2015 sailing schedule will take effect Sunday, June 14, with a new Olympic Class vessel, additional sailings, vehicle reservations to the San Juan Islands and increased service hours on many routes, the state’s transportation department announced. For the Anacortes/San Juan Islands service, WSF added a fifth vessel, the new Olympic Class 144-car ferry Samish, for more sailings, providing better connections to Anacortes and Friday Harbor during commute hours. Also new this summer, customers can make vehicle reservations to and from the San Juan Islands.

A crewmember aboard containership Horizon Tacoma was medevaced by a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) aircrew near Port Townsend, Wash., Saturday. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles hoisted the man and transported him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after the 700-foot ship’s master contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, in Seattle, requesting assistance for a 72-year-old crewmember reportedly suffering chest pain. The crewman is in stable condition. The aircrew launched at 12:25 p.m., arrived on scene and completed hoist operations at 12:40 p.m.

“Yes, Mirek. Four men huddled on the bow of the burning, 190-foot fishing vessel Galaxy as the crippled boat foundered on one of the world’s cruelest oceans. Captain Dave Shoemaker was seriously hurt. After the backdraft explosion, he made several desperate attempts to enter the smoke-filled wheelhouse, find a radio and issue a mayday call. Each foray left him puking and gasping, smoke searing his lungs and contact with the steel bulkheads charring his flesh and igniting his clothing. After each attempt, he climbed through an escape hatch onto the roof of the wheelhouse, gasping for air.

Crews from The Undersea Company of Port Townsend, Wash. have removed the 185-ton dock that crossed the ocean following the March 2011 tsunami. NOAA contracted with The Undersea Company to remove the dock from the remote wilderness coast in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and the Olympic National Park and work began on March 17. "This operation was challenging-imagine opening up a 185-ton concrete package filled with foam packing peanuts while standing near a helicopter on an extremely remote coastline," said John Nesset, president and C.E.O. of The Undersea Company.

Delivering value for transportation dollars was among attributes cited in a national award presented today to the Washington State Department of Transportation for building three new ferries under budget. WSDOT won the regional “Under Budget, Large Project” category and was recognized for building three, 64-car, 750-passenger vessels on time and at a savings to taxpayers. WSDOT is now entered into a competition for one of two national awards that carry $10,000 in prizes. This…

Third 64-car ferry joins state fleet three months ahead of schedule. There must be something magic about the number three. Today, Vigor Industrial and its U.S. Fab shipbuilding division delivered the third of three new Washington state ferries, the 64-car Kennewick, three months ahead of schedule. “This is a major milestone in our vessel replacement program,” said Assistant Secretary David Moseley. “The Kwa-di Tabil class is now complete. The Kwa-di Tabil construction supported more than 360 family-wage jobs during the past two years at Seattle’s Harbor Island shipyard…

Crews will test the Kennewick in coming weeks. If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you may catch a glimpse of the newest state ferry sailing around Puget Sound in the next couple weeks. Builder Vigor Shipyards plans to start testing the ferry Kennewick this week before delivering it to Washington State Ferries. “We’re looking forward to Vigor really putting the Kennewick to the test in sea trials before we add it to our fleet,” said Captain George Capacci, deputy chief of construction and operations. The first two days of sea trials are scheduled for Oct. 6-7.

Full service will resume Friday on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route when the 64-car Chetzemoka returns to service for the noon sailing from Port Townsend. The vessel was pulled from service Tuesday so shipyard craftsmen could install a new keel cooler. “We met our goal to get the Chetzemoka back into service for the busy weekend,” said Assistant Secretary David Moseley. “It couldn’t have been accomplished without the hard work of ferry and shipyard employees. The Chetzemoka was towed on Tuesday to Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes for drydocking.

Vessel will go to drydock for repairs mid-week. PORT TOWNSEND – The Port Townsend and Whidbey Island communities have been seeing record-breaking numbers of tourists as vacationers take advantage of the last few weekends of summer. To help accommodate another influx of tourists expected this weekend, Washington State Ferries (WSF) is scheduling needed repairs to the Chetzemoka for mid-week. WSF has been running the Chetzemoka after temporary repairs were made to the vessel last week, but yesterday a custom-manufactured part arrived from Wisconsin and the vessel has been scheduled for drydock.

The new 64-car ferry Salish will begin service on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route at noon on Friday, July 1, following a community celebration in Port Townsend on June 30. Two-boat service will continue on the route until Oct. 10. “I know how important it is to the communities to restore full service on the route in time for the busy holiday weekend,” said Assistant Secretary David Moseley. “This couldn’t have been accomplished without the hard work and dedication of many people. I especially want to thank the deck and engine crews for their role in bringing the Salish into service. The Salish begins service with the noon sailing from Port Townsend. The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) will begin taking vehicle reservations for the Salish soon.

Nearly four years after the retirement of the Steel Electric Class ferries, the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) will welcome the newest addition to the state ferry fleet. The 64-car Salish will be the center of a community celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Port Townsend ferry terminal. WSF and the communities of Port Townsend and Whidbey Island will celebrate the restoration of two-boat service on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route. The Salish will join her sister ship Chetzemoka on the route in July. WSF hopes to have the Salish in service by the Fourth of July weekend, but will confirm the date at the conclusion of sea trials scheduled to wrap up at the end of June.

Creative Systems, Inc., developers of GHS, has several training classes scheduled for the remainder of 2011. This training provides the naval architect the knowledge and confidence to make use of the flexibility of power that are available in this software package. The Canadian Coast Guard will be hosting general GHS class, including model building and stability calculations. London Offshore Consultants will be hosting intermediate GHS class, dealing with salvage operations. Nick Danese Applied Research will be hosting an advanced GHS class in Probabilistic Damage. Class sizes are limited, so please contact Creative Systems directly for a seat in any of these classes. Additional future classes can be arranged at your location or at the offices of Creative Systems in Port Townsend, WA, USA.

The newest vessel to be added to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) fleet of ferries was delivered by builder Todd Pacific Shipyards today. The 64-car ferry, Salish, will restore two-boat service to the Port Townsend/Coupeville route in July. “We feel a great sense of satisfaction after having built and delivered this complex vessel,” said Steve Welch, president of Todd Pacific Shipyards. “It’s going to transport millions of passengers for the next fifty years or more.

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. Later this spring, WSF crews will begin…

Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division said that changes to software controlling the propeller system on the new Chetzemoka ferry may provide a temporary solution to vibration issues first discovered last month. Additional sea trials are scheduled for the middle of next week after representatives of the propulsion-control company write software exerting greater control over the engine “ramping,” which allows the bow propeller to slow the ship as it approaches the dock. The goal is to ramp up the propeller speed over a period of a few seconds longer, as opposed to a more sudden and quick thrust of power.

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. “These new ferries represent progress toward a more reliable ferry system, which is critical for the economic prosperity of ferry communities,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary.

Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division (WSF) announced on Oct. 13, that it is awarding a contract to Todd Pacific Shipyards to build two additional 64-car ferries. Todd Shipyards submitted a $114m bid on Thursday, October 8 to build two more 64-car ferries. With the contract award, Todd will begin constructing the second and third ferries in this new class of vessels. WSF awarded a contract to Todd to construct the first 64-car ferry in December 2008. That vessel is under construction and scheduled to go into service on the Port Townsend/Keystone route in late-summer 2010. “This contract award is expected to sustain nearly 400 family wage jobs,” said. Gov. Chris Gregoire.