PORT TOWNSEND — Three round trips between Port Townsend and Coupeville will be canceled next Sunday, Nov. 14, to accommodate the inaugural voyage of the MV Chetzemoka, which will begin service on the route the following day.
The canceled sailings are the 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. from Port Townsend, and the 8:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. from Coupeville on Whidbey Island, according to the state ferries system.
Vehicle reservations are available aboard the Steilacoom II for all other sailings that day.
The 9:30 p.m. crossing from Coupeville will be the last voyage on the route for the Steilacoom II, which Washington State Ferries leased from Pierce County for three years.
The new $76.5 million Chetzemoka will take over the route on the regular schedule on Monday, Nov. 15.
While the morning 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. sailings out of Port Townsend will operate as usual, the 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. sailings are invitation-only.
The 8 a.m. sailing will be open only to invited guests of the city of Port Townsend, with a limited number of standby spaces available.
The 9:30 a.m. sailing is restricted to Gov. Chris Gregoire, legislators, members of the media and other dignitaries, with no public space available.
No vehicle traffic will be allowed on either sailing, aside from the governor’s security vehicle.
No explanation was available as to the cancellation of the early afternoon sailings, which are posted on the state ferries system website, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/.
Christening ceremony
The christening ceremony for the new 65-car ferry will be at about 10:30 a.m. aboard the Chetzemoka while it is docked at the Coupeville terminal.
Tickets will be required to get onto the boat. Those without tickets will be able to hear the ceremony from the parking lot, and a limited sight line will be available, said Washington State Ferries spokesman Joy Goldenberg.
The governor’s security detail will be in place and the state ferries system is coordinating security measures with state and local law enforcement officials, Goldenberg said.
Extra police personnel will be used to deal with the expected congestion.
The inaugural sailing will begin at about 11:20 a.m. and will last for an hour, about twice the time the route normally takes.
Port Townsend ceremonies
Upon arrival in Port Townsend, the Chetzemoka will be greeted with a tribal ceremony, which will be open to the public.
This will be followed by an open house from about 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at which time anyone can board the vessel and take a look around.
At 2:45 p.m., people will begin gathering for the Port Townsend Family Portrait on the tarmac with the ferry in the background.
The picture will be taken by Port Townsend photographer David Conklin from a ladder truck borrowed from East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.
It will be turned into a poster that will be available the next day for $10 at the Printery/Star Copy 631 Tyler St.
Port Townsend City government commissioned a painting by local artist Max Grover that depicts the route, and it is to be presented to Pierce County representatives as thanks for use of the ferry for nearly three years.
The 50-car Steilacoom II has been the sole ferry between the two Admiralty Inlet docks since state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond pulled four 80-year-old Steel Electric ferries from service because their hulls were pitted and corroded.
A second ferry, the Salish, identical to the Chetzemoka, is scheduled to begin operation in 2011.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
