Washington State Department Of Transportation
Washington State Department Of Transportation News
WSF Ferry Wenatchee Suffers Electrical Issue
Sea trials on the Washington State Ferries (WSF) ferry Wenatchee (2,500 passengers, 200 vehicles) got off to a bad start last week, as WSF reports "investigation by our technicians and engine crew discovered last week the control system communication wires were creating intermittent instability which caused the drive motors to go offline."Invariably, problems crop up during most every vessel's shakedown…
Eastern Shipbuilding Gets Go-Ahead from WSF for Three Hybrid-Electric Ferries
Eastern Shipbuilding Group received the Notice to Proceed from Washington State Ferries (WSF) to build two with an option for an additional 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries for the State of Washington. This milestone follows the first competitive bid for ferry construction in more than 25 years for the nation’s largest ferry system.“This is an exciting milestone in bringing new hybrid-electric ferries to our fleet…
Washington State Ferry Converted to Hybrid-Electric
The 30-year-old Washington State Ferries vessel Wenatchee, one of the state’s three largest ferries, has been converted to hybrid-electric power. It is due to be operational again this summer.The work included:• taking out two of the four diesel generators• building two new battery rooms and outfitting them with 864 battery modules• installing new controls• installing thousands of feet of electric…
WSF Hybrid-Electric Ferry Conversions Put on Ice
In a move to restore full domestic ferry service by summer, Governor Bob Ferguson said that Washington State Ferries (WSF) will delay the hybrid-electric conversion of two of the state’s largest ferries. The decision comes as WSF works to increase its operational fleet, ensuring that 18 vessels are in service simultaneously for the first time since 2019. Restoring full domestic ferry service requires 21 vessels, with at least 18 running at any given time.
Washington State's New Ferry Starts Operations
The newest auto/passenger vessel to serve the United States' largest ferry system has made its debut on the U.S. West Coast.Washington State Ferries (WSF) began carrying passengers aboard the newest state ferry, Suquamish, sailing from Clinton, Wash. on October 4.The 1,500 passenger and 144 vehicle capacity Suquamish, constructed by U.S. shipbuilder Vigor and christened earlier this year, is the fourth and last of the funded Olympic Class ferries…
Washington State Ferries Looks to Go Greener
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.
