PORT TOWNSEND — Celtic harpist David Michael, who performed for 17 years on the Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry route, will make a return performance at the MV Chetzemoka’s inaugural sailing celebration Sunday, Nov. 14.
But instead of being on board the new 64-car vessel, Michael will pluck his harp strings at the Port Townsend ferry terminal.
“I will be playing in the cold November parking lot,” Michael said with a chuckle. “I am still banished from the boat.”
Michael, who still feels he was left out in the cold in 2007, said the invitation to perform outdoors at the Chetzemoka’s dedication was nice but somewhat symbolic.
For years, he performed during the summer months aboard the ferry Klickitat, which was one of the Steel Electric ferries pulled from the Port Townsend-Whidbey Island route for safety reasons in November 2007.
Michael discontinued busking aboard the ferry on Aug. 13, 2007, after passenger complaints led Washington State Ferries officials to require that the Port Townsend musician be treated like any other passenger under tightened homeland security requirements.
That meant Michael, then 55 and suffering from back trouble, must take his 30-pound harp and pack CDs on and off each of eight departures and arrivals at the Port Townsend and Keystone terminals, as required under the Coast Guard-enforced homeland security policy.
He also was no longer allowed to sell his CDs aboard the ferry because such sales are against the state ferries system’s policy without a proper permit.
David Moseley, state deputy transportation secretary for ferries, invited Michael to perform at the Nov. 14 ceremony.
Michael’s wife, Dari Lewis, had written the official asking him if Michael could do so.
“David has been given the option to perform on the Port Townsend dock space during the open house period,” ferry system spokeswoman Marta Coursey said.
“I believe he is working out the logistics details with event staff to ensure he will be able to do this.”
Klallam tribal members from across the North Olympic Peninsula, the Navy Band and the Salty Sailors singing group also will perform at the celebrations in Port Townsend and on Whidbey Island that will mark the launch of the first ferry built by the state since 1999.
Gov. Chris Gregoire, legislators, state and local officials and an estimated 300 invited guests from communities on both sides of Admiralty Inlet will board the Chetzemoka at the Whidbey Island Coupeville terminal for the new ferry’s first sailing.
Guests will take an hour-long cruise from Whidbey Island to Port Townsend.
In Port Townsend, the 750-passenger ferry will be available for public viewing.
The new ferry will begin its regularly scheduled service between Port Townsend and the Coupeville terminal on Monday, Nov. 15, and will assume the same 20 daily sailings as the Steilacoom II, which now plies the route, beginning with a 6:15 a.m. departure from Port Townsend and a 9:15 p.m. departure from Coupeville.
The new boat — which cost $76.5 million for construction, contingency and construction management — is named for the well-respected Klallam chief Chetzemoka, who was buried in Port Townsend.
The Chetzemoka will be first permanent ferry on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route in nearly three years.
The 50-car Steilacoom II, which the state leases from Pierce County, has been the solo ferry between the two Admiralty Inlet docks since state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond pulled the three 80-year-old Steel Electric ferries from service because their hulls were pitted and corroded.
Professional buskers have been prohibited from performing on state ferries until a proposal meets the approval of the Coast Guard.
“It’s up to the ferry system, and [Michael] as well, if they want to put together something they can do that,” said John Dwyer, U.S. Coast Guard chief of inspections.
Amateur musicians can still play on the ferries so long as they don’t sell anything and disembark after each run.
Michael said key to making it worthwhile for many buskers to perform on ferries is the ability to sell their CDs or downloads on board, and that the $200 a day “tabletop” business permit fee allowing such sales was too expensive.
“Nothing has changed,” said Michael, who added that he has offered to advise ferry system officials on a busking policy but nothing has come of it.
He now spends his summers busking in downtown Winthrop, over the Cascade Mountains in eastern Washington, and makes occasional appearances during special events in downtown Port Townsend.
“I’m a professional busker and I need a place where I can regularly perform,” he said.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
