In honor of National Awareness Month, we’d like to report on June’s ferry happenings.
A naked man streaked the Seattle PD headquarters, then ran to the ferry dock for a swim. Also at Colman Dock, a rider tried to skirt the ferry fare and, after being warned, got Tased.
Here in Kingston, an overlong logging truck gave a roundhouse punch to a toll booth, knocking out the windows. Don’t know about the toll taker. There’s gotta be some cartoons in all this. Any ideas?
Public meeting
Get on board with planning our ferry system’s future and get answers to all your ferry questions July 6-8 p.m. in the Kingston Community Center.
About every five years, WSF puts together a Long-Range Plan. While the plan inevitably gets blue-penciled by events (like tying up the Steel Electrics) and by the Legislature (like “We got no money honey!”), the plan is nonetheless the starting point.
This 12-month undertaking will be explained that day.
On Kingston-Edmonds, they’ll be looking at what’s going to replace our Jumbo ferries: several smaller ferries like the boat that Rex Carlaw talks about below, or a new generation of super-sized ferries. WSF will also be looking at technologies to save money like LNG, and management strategies to stretch out our ferry capacity, like reservations and devious fare policies. EEK! So be there! Great cookies, coffee and camaraderie.
Our newest ferry, by Rex Lee Carlaw
The gleaming new MV Tokitae, first Olympic-class ferry, was presented to the public June 8 at Clinton, Whidbey Island, in a beautifully orchestrated open house and community celebration hosted by Washington State Ferries, Nichols Brothers, Vigor Shipyards, other suppliers of ship products, and local businesses. About 1,000 people attended a ceremony in the tunnel of the car deck and were served refreshments in the galley, and received tours of the wheelhouse as well as free access to all public areas including the sun deck.
Interim ferries chief Capt. George Capacci was master of ceremonies, joined by shipyard officials, state Department of Transportation directors, administrative staff of the Ferries Division, politicians, and Ferry Advisory Committee members. The Samish Nation and seafaring chanters sang between speeches, and rounds of applause were held for the shipyards and shipwrights, legislators, and ferry service.
The vessel will carry 144 cars and 1,500 passengers. That means the car deck capacity is the same as the older superferries — Hyak, Kaleetan, Yakima, Elwha — but the passenger count doesn’t compare with the original 2,600 maximum on the supers. Speed will be 17 knots, also lower than the old 144s. Because of modern fire regulations, the lounges are chopped up into smaller areas. While very comfortable and attractive, lines of sight are sacrificed compared to earlier vessels, and are more reminiscent of the recent 64-car ferries — Chetzemoka, Salish, Kennewick — which serve the Port Townsend-Coupeville and Point Defiance-Tahlequah runs.
The Tokitae has many electrical power outlets and tables for commuters and features an expansive sundeck with seating glassed in on three sides, providing unobstructed views. However, because of manning requirements from the Coast Guard, the sundeck will be closed on the short Mukilteo-Clinton (12-minute crossing) route.
Sister ships Samish and as yet unnamed No. 3 Olympic-class will be used on the Anacortes-San Juan Islands and Seattle-Bremerton crossings and WSF is planning to open the sundecks there.
Your wait is over
There are two spots open on Kingston’s Ferry Advisory Committee. Weigh in on fares and schedules, tackle problems and be a respected ferry-answer person. Call 360-337-4650, or email rpirtle@co.kitsap.wa.us.
