Ferry Fixation: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
It all adds up to the global effort to strengthen bottom lines, safety margins and the collective environmental footprint. The future for ferries seems to be on fire; both in good ways and bad. The good is always a good place to start. And, that’s because it is ferry fabrication time. The most notable ferry routes in America are jumping into the construction queue for new vessels and soon the next generation of ferry vessels will be hitting the piers (not literally of course).
Ferry Experts and Legislators to Discuss Steel Electric Ferries
Washington State Ferries will hold meetings regarding the status of the Steel Electric class vessels and Port Townsend/Keystone ferry service. Legislators and staff from affected ferry communities, Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond and Washington State Ferries Executive Director Mike Anderson will review current ferry status and discuss future vessel and service options. John Boylston, Naval Architect, Legislative Joint Transportation Committee consultants and WSF engineers will present Steel Electric repair and replacement options. Legislators and their staff, shipyard representatives, Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond and Washington State Ferries Executive Director Mike Anderson will likely attend. The meetings will be held in the Rainier Conference Room.
WSF Passenger-Only Ferry Service Cut
Washington State Ferries announced today a cut in the Vashon passenger-only ferry service based on a legislative mandate requiring WSF to implement part-time shifts and cut service hours from 16 hours to eight hours of service per day, Monday through Friday. In order to maximize service based on these new legislative requirements, Washington State Ferries worked closely with the Vashon and Southworth Ferry Advisory Committees. The system also used ridership figures per sailing as criteria so that the most popular sailings were retained. Customers under-utilized most of the effected sailings. According to WSF, although the scheduled service hours have been reduced by eight hours per day…
WSF Port Townsend-Keystone Route to Continue Full Servcie
Washington State Ferries (WSF) said that the Port Townsend-Keystone route will continue to operate on a two-boat regular schedule, despite reports that the Nisqually may be taken off the route and service reduced to one vessel. The Nisqually and the Klickitat will operate on the published summer schedule, which is available online at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/. On Sunday, July 29, a slow leak was discovered in the stern tube (part of the vessel steering system) of the Illahee. The Illahee was removed from service and taken to Todd Shipyard in Seattle for repairs. On Monday, July 30, the Nisqually was brought to Port Townsend to replace it and will remain in service on this route…
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 ferry system’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility for its required, annual inspection. Two Steel Electric Class vessels will continue to operate on the Port Townsend – Keystone route. “We recognize that a ferry with less auto capacity inconveniences our customers.
