PORT ANGELES — Now there’s another reason to ride the MV Coho: the good deals for international travelers.
Black Ball Ferry Line opened a duty-free shop on Tuesday aboard its car ferry that carries passengers across the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles and Victoria daily.
A duty-free shop has discount prices on liquor, tobacco and other products because it doesn’t apply local or national taxes and duties.
The Coho Duty Free is located in the mid-ship lounge of the main passenger deck of the 50-year-old vessel. It also sells fragrances and gift items like playing cards.
“Sales were good [Tuesday], our very first day, with no advertisement,” said Rian Anderson, Port Angeles district manager for Black Ball Ferry Line.
The 90-minute crossing of the Strait of Juan de Fuca is known for its scenery and reliability. The Coho has never missed a sailing because of bad weather, Black Ball says in its literature.
The new shop is open during each sailing.
While prices on Coho Duty Free are subject to change, jumbo cartons of premium cigarettes were selling this week for under $25. Forty-ounce bottles of Absolut vodka and Tanqueray gin cost about $20, and a 24-pack case of Budweiser beer was $18.99.
A flat-screen TV, showing prices and ads, will be installed in about a month, Anderson said.
The ship’s main gift shop will continue to sell clothing, books and gift items.
Public demand
The decision to open Coho Duty Free stemmed from public demand, Anderson said.
“Duty-free shopping is something our passengers have always been interested in having on board,” said Ryan Burles, CEO of Black Ball Ferry Line, in a written statement released Wednesday.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this new service for passengers in addition to our on-board gift shop, which has always been very popular.”
Washington and British Columbia are among the highest-taxed states and provinces for tobacco and liquor, Anderson said.
The Landing Mall near the Coho’s Port Angeles dock housed the Northwest Duty Free Store for 17 years, until the Seattle-based chain closed the business in September.
Anderson described the Coho Duty Free as a “different animal” because potential customers are already on the ship.
“There has always been a lot of interest from people on board the ship,” he said.
“It’s been in the works for a while.”
Anderson said he could not provide revenue projections for the Coho Duty Free.
Cathy Smith, the on-board manager of both the gift shop and duty-free shop, said the early reaction from passengers has been positive.
“I think it’s really exciting,” Smith said.
“It’s new revenue generated for the Coho and a great offer to the community and the passengers who want the option of duty-free.”
Anderson said the intention is for customers to take their duty-free purchases with them, not consume them on board the vessel.
Black Ball Ferry Line, formerly known as Black Ball Transport Inc., will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Dec. 29.
As part of the celebration, the company is giving away a weekend vacation for two in a contest offered on its revamped Web site, www.cohoferry.com.
A new winner will be selected every month.
More than 405,000 passengers and 120,000 vehicles make the crossing on the Coho every year.
All told, the Coho has carried 21 million passengers and 5 million vehicles across the Strait since 1959, Black Ball officials said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
