Kitsap Transit recently announced it will receive $13.5 million in federal funds to buy a new fast ferry that would replace an older vessel on the Kingston/Seattle route.

The funds cover nearly 80% of the $17.5 million cost, a KT news release states. The agency is contributing about $4 million.

“This funding allows us to buy a new boat to operate a route that has been running with a backup vessel – M/V Finest – that is older and has had to go out of service repeatedly for multiple issues,” KT executive director John Clauson said. “In late August we had to suspend sailings on the route for five days because we didn’t have a working spare vessel. This funding will give us the opportunity to reduce downtime and enhance service reliability.”

The 349-passenger Finest was built in 1996 and refurbished in 2018. In recent years, required maintenance has exponentially increased. The agency completed a survey of the vessel that found the hull and engines are at or near the end of their useful life. To extend the life of the Finest would cost between up to $17 million, per the release.

A new ferry would cost about the same, incorporate cleaner diesel engines, and could resemble KT’s bow-loading vessels M/V Enetai and Commander, each of which has capacity for 250 passengers.

“This is great news for people in North Kitsap who rely on the fast ferry to get to Seattle,” Kitsap County Commissioner Christine Rolfes said.