WSF Weekly Update | Three new shipbuilders interested; sailing stats with no crewing cancellations

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

A message from Steve

We’ve reached another exciting step in our electrification journey! Three shipbuilders are interested in building five hybrid-electric 160-car ferries for us. They are Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Washington; Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida and Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each have sent us pre-qualification packages after we invited shipbuilders across the country to bid. In 2023, the Legislature passed a law allowing us to seek shipbuilders nationwide and to build vessels at one or two shipyards at the same time. We expect the first two boats in 2028, two more in 2029 and the last one in 2030.

In addition to lowering our emissions, these new ferries will help our crew members. The boats will produce less noise and have fewer vibrations, making the ride easier on the body and reducing fatigue for our employees.

Our next step is to visit these shipyards while we finish the design for the new vessels. Later this year, we’ll ask the qualified builders to submit bids. These new ferries are expected to support our Mukilteo/Clinton and Seattle/Bremerton routes. We are all looking forward to creating a more reliable and eco-friendlier ferry system!

 Two day closure of Seattle terminal’s Marion Street exit

Be prepared for possible delays in the late morning if you’re driving out of our Seattle terminal next week. The Marion Street exit will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon on two of the four days from Tuesday, Oct. 8, to Friday, Oct. 11, for work on our Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project. Because of the nature of the concrete pour work, the exact dates will be announced through rider alerts and our social media channels early next week.

When the Marion Street exit is closed, all vehicles must use the Yesler Way exit, which leads to southbound Alaskan Way South.

Ferry Riders’ Opinion Group survey

Share your thoughts with us in the new Ferry Riders Opinion Group survey by the Washington State Transportation Commission. Whether you ride the ferry often, occasionally or just care about ferry issues, we want to hear from you. Sign up to join the Ferry Riders’ Opinion Group to be included in all future surveys. Thank you for your input.

US 101 Lake Crescent travel delays Oct. 7-19

If your ferry travels take you to the coast, expect delays on US 101 near Lake Crescent starting Monday, Oct. 7. From 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, there will be up to 30-minute delays through Saturday, Oct. 19. Traffic will be down to one lane as crews work on removing hazardous trees in Olympic National Park. You can take State Route 112 and SR 113 as alternate routes.

Kitsap Color Classic on our Edmonds/Kingston route Sunday, Oct. 6

We expect a lot of bicyclists on our Edmonds/Kingston route on Sunday, Oct. 6, for the 30th Annual Kitsap Color Classic. If you’re driving onto the ferry, plan for delays and less space for cars, or think about taking a different route. Participants are asked to follow our staff’s directions.

Most of the bicycle traffic will be on our morning sailings out of Edmonds, then Kingston departures in the afternoon.

Sailing stats for week of Sept. 23-29

For the week of Sept. 23-29, we completed 98.5% of our 2,795 scheduled sailings. Of our 47 cancellations, 16 were due to a vessel being out of service, 13 to reset the schedule (when a boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers) eight because of delays, eight due to fog, one for an emergency and one to provide additional service for another sailing. This is the first week since May there were no cancelled sailings due to crewing.

Customer kudos

“The Port Townsend toll booth always has someone who is extra helpful, is positive, is kind, and is simply a wonderful human. The start of my trip is always a great one!”

-Port Townsend/Coupeville route customer