WSF Weekly Report | Construction underway for new boats

||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

A message from Steve

Yesterday in Florida, we celebrated the start of construction on our newest vessel, Wishkah. The steel cutting ceremony is an exciting milestone. It marks the beginning of something many Washingtonians have been waiting a long time to see: new ferries being built. I also know that for many customers, it can be difficult to celebrate a milestone like this while they continue to experience service disruptions today. The reality is that decisions made over decades mean we haven’t built enough boats to keep pace with an aging fleet. Between 2000 and 2030, when this new vessel is expected to enter service, Washington will have added just seven new ferries to the fleet. That is a big reason for the instability our customers experience today.

Standing at Eastern Shipbuilding Group yesterday, it was hard not to feel proud. Speaking before the ceremonial steel cutting that launched construction of our first new ferry in more than a decade was a reminder that our future is taking shape, one piece of steel at a time.

There is no quick fix, but there is a plan. We are building new boats while continuing to invest in the vessels we have today. Together, those investments will restore the resilience our ferry system needs to provide the reliable service our communities depend on. Standing in the shipyard and watching construction begin, it was hard not to think about what this vessel represents. It represents fewer cancellations caused by an aging fleet, more reliable service and a stronger ferry system for the people who rely on it every day. It won’t happen overnight, but this week marked an important step toward getting there.

A CNC cutting machine uses an intense plasma torch to cut large steel plates into the precise shapes needed to build the new ferry. The process creates bright sparks, flames and smoke as construction officially gets underway.

Third ferry added to new vessel contract

Building on that momentum, I’m also excited to share another major development in modernizing our fleet. Last summer, we awarded a contract to Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build two new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries, with an option for a third. This week, we exercised that option. That means we’ll receive new vessels in three consecutive years. The contract also includes the cost of delivering all three boats to Washington. These new ferries will first serve our Mukilteo/Clinton, then Seattle/Bremerton routes. When our terminals are ready with charging power, these new vessels will cut emissions by about 90 percent compared to our older boats. This helps move us closer to our goal to have 26 ferries in our fleet by 2040.

These new vessels will replace some of our oldest vessels, including several that are more than 50 years old.

Electrification Program Administrator David Sowers and Eastern Shipbuilding Group CEO and Chairman Joey D’Isernia signed the agreement yesterday to add a third new hybrid-electric ferry continuing the work to replace some our oldest vessels.

Celebrating YMCA of Greater Seattle’s 150th anniversary

Tomorrow, Aug. 7, you’ll see special YMCA of Greater Seattle 150th anniversary flags flying on all our ferries. For many years, we’ve worked alongside the Y to support programs like Camp Orkila. Every summer, thousands of campers, counselors and supplies travel aboard our ferries to and from Orcas Island. Together, we help connect young people to experiences that build confidence, friendships and lifelong memories. Congratulations to the YMCA of Greater Seattle on 150 years of serving our communities. We’re honored to celebrate this milestone with them. If you spot the flags flying tomorrow, snap a photo and tag us and YMCA of Greater Seattle on Facebook and Instagram.

To celebrate the YMCA of Greater Seattle’s 150th anniversary, we will fly these flags on all our vessels in service tomorrow, Aug. 7.

Sailing stats for week of July 27 to Aug. 2

For the week of July 27 to Aug. 2, our systemwide on-time performance (sailings that left within 10 minutes of their scheduled departure) was 71.6%. By comparison, it was 74.1% during a similar week last year (July 28 to Aug. 3, 2025). To view our on-time performance by month going back to 2017, visit our on-time performance reports page.

Customer kudos

“I wanted to tell you how efficient and helpful (Info Agent Timmyka Barber-White) was to work with. I needed information to catch a ferry from Coupeville to Port (Townsend). I had tried to do it myself first, but I was still trying an hour later. She helped me and it was completed in 5 minutes. What a gem she is for you to have work for you.”

-Port Townsend/Coupeville route customer