Peninsula Daily News News Sources
Todd Shipyards delivered the Chetzemoka ferry to Washington State Ferries on Wednesday.
It is expected to begin carrying vehicles and passengers between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island in about six weeks.
The 64-car, 750-passenger Chetzemoka, was towed to the state’s Eagle Harbor maintenance yard on Bainbridge Island on Wednesday, the Kitsap Sun said.
Crews soon will begin training on the route across Admiralty Inlet. After training is completed, the ferry will begin operation on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route, replacing the Steilacoom II now plying the Admiralty Inlet waters.
The state ferries system has not set an inaugural sailing date “because we are quite honestly going to wait until we get that vessel up and running on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route,” Marta Coursey, state ferries system spokeswoman, told the Kitsap Sun.
The state ferries system had planned to take possession of the boat earlier this month, but it had not been cleared by the Coast Guard, which was awaiting the results of safety tests of back-up emergency systems.
During training, captains, engineers and crews will become familiar with this new class of ferries, to continue testing its operating capabilities and to practice a variety of emergency and security drills.
Both Port Townsend and Coupeville have planned inaugural celebrations for the ferry.
The Chetzemoka originally was scheduled for its maiden voyage Aug. 29. That was delayed after sea trials uncovered excessive vibrations that were corrected through a software adjustment.
The Chetzemoka and a second ferry, the Salish, will replace the Steel Electric ferries that were pulled out of service in late November 2007.
Since then, the 50-car ferry Steilacoom II, which the state leases from Pierce County, has sailed the route alone.
The Salish is expected to join the Chetzemoka on the route in spring 2011.
