Vashon Island News

Washington State Ferries said one of its vessels suffered "significant damage" as the result of a "hard landing" at the Fauntleroy terminal in Seattle on Thursday.The Cathlamet, which was traveling from Vashon Island to West Seattle during a 7:55 a.m. sailing, reportedly struck an offshore dolphin (pilings, not the aquatic mammal) before alliding with the dock.Photos shared to social media show considerable damage to Cathlamet's port bow above the waterline. No injuries or pollution were reported, though several cars on board the ferry have been damaged.

Despite of some of the lowest fuel prices experienced in the last eight years, demand for ferry construction is at a seemingly all time high. The focus on building new ferries kicked off in early 2013 and the sustained interest is the continued result of an unleashing of pent up demand. Fleets have been aging and infrastructure needs to be built up in order to accommodate the future demand for commuter ferry travel once fuel prices return to and surpass their once familiar norms.

All American Marine, Inc. (AAM) today announced the delivery of a new passenger ferry that will serve the city of Seattle. The vessel, MV Sally Fox, was dedicated at a ceremony on Vashon Island on Saturday. The Sally Fox is the first of two new ferries ordered by King County’s Marine Division as replacement vessels for their scheduled water taxi service. All American Marine was awarded the contract and issued the Notice to Proceed for the identical vessels at the start of 2014. Sally Fox is the first U.S.

The King County Ferry District, whose ferries link the communities that ring Lake Washington and Puget Sound, has contracted with Bellingham-based All American Marine to design and build two new 'water taxis' to replace its pair of 25 year-old leased vessels. The operators explain that the new vessels will each carry 250 passengers, 78 more than the vessels they will replace. That added capacity means more passengers will be able to use the water taxis during the busiest weekday commute periods.

U.S. Fab, a Vigor Industrial company, has delivered the purpose-built vessel to Washington’s King County for the use of its passenger ferry fleet. The 140’x40’x7’6” barge features moorage for up to four vessels and two steel structures, one that houses a well-equipped maintenance workshop and the other a two-story office and crew quarters. “This was an interesting project that required teams to integrate two different building classification standards while maintaining optimal cost efficiencies,” explained Bryan Nichols, Sales and Marketing Manager for Vigor Industrial.

The crew aboard Crowley Maritime Corporation’s tugboat Guard recently performed a heroic rescue of a man who was struggling to stay afloat in the waters outside of San Francisco Bay. The rescue took place during the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 31, while the tugboat was standing by outside the Golden Gate Bridge, waiting to escort a tanker into San Francisco Bay’s anchorage. Crowley’s Perry Overton, captain of the Guard, noticed the man treading water a little more than a mile and a half from the bridge.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $42m in grants to improve ferry service and build new docks and facilities in 15 states and Puerto Rico. Congress authorized the Federal Highway Administration’s Ferry Boat Program was created to fund ferry boat projects that provide critical access to areas that lack other means of transportation where high passenger demand already exists. Program funds can be used for capital improvements to existing ferry operations which could increase the number of riders, relieve congestion or address environmental or significant operational concerns. The projects include funding…

Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, the 34-car Hiyu will operate on the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route (Tacoma to south Vashon Island) for approximately six weeks while the 48-car Rhododendron is out of service for scheduled maintenance and inspection. To assist customers on this route, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division (WSF) will add an additional midday roundtrip sailing. The Hiyu will depart Point Defiance at 12:50 p.m. and Tahlequah at 1:15 p.m. Another option for customers on this route is to form a temporary carpool during the six-week service reduction. Carpools with at least three people get preferential loading over single occupancy vehicles.

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, and will continue seeking new ways to improve fuel efficiency. As a result of all these changes, nearly 10,000 fewer tons of pollutants will be released into the air by ferry fuel emissions.

Washington State Ferries (WSF) announced that the regular vessel on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route, the Rhododendron, will be out of service until mid-September for repair. WSF had hoped to have the vessel back in service this week, but has since learned that repairs will take longer than expected. The 34-car Hiyu, the smallest ferry in the fleet, is operating on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route in the meantime. Because the Hiyu carries fewer vehicles than the Rhododendron, travelers are encouraged to avoid peak periods or use other ferry routes if they have to travel to Vashon Island. The 60 year-old Rhododendron is at Foss Shipyard in Seattle for repairs to the rub rail approximately four feet above the waterline.

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is actively working on proposals addressing budget reductions stemming from the passage of Initiative 695 (I-695). The overall effort is designed to bring WSF's programs and operations into alignment with the new budget requirements. "The message we are getting from voters is to institute operating efficiencies while protecting vital services," said Paul Green, director and CEO, WSF. According to Green, in order of priority, service reductions are last on the list. First on the list are reductions in management and support staff. The second priority in saving money is to reduce capital expenditures to reflect the new budget. The final savings will be produced by reducing service.

Two significant efforts are under way at Washington State Ferries to shape the ferry system following passage of Initiative 695 (I-695), which eliminated $52 million from the WSF budget. One is a short-term project: Rewriting the sailing schedule for remaining years in the current budget. The second is to examine ways of raising revenue in future years to restore ferry service, including a statewide ballot measure that would approve higher ferry fares. Given the difficult task of cutting service, the ferry system has adopted goals of maintaining core weekday service as much as possible, and trimming night, non-essential mid-day and off-season recreational trips. Under this plan, passenger-only service will be eliminated, and 10 ferries will be taken out of service.