PORT TOWNSEND—The MV Kennewick began service on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route Tuesday afternoon.
The move completes Washington State Ferries’ process of adding three new vessels to its fleet, the 64-car ferries of the Kwa-di Tabil class, which were the first state ferries to be built in more than a decade.
“This is a major milestone in our vessel replacement program,” said David Moseley, head of the state ferries system.
“The Kwa-di Tabil class is now complete, and we’re beginning construction on a new 144-car ferry — an important action that helps ensure we have modern vessels to continue giving our passengers safe and reliable service.”
The boat departed about 15 minutes later than its scheduled 2:15 p.m. sailing, since only one of the dock’s two ferry slips can accommodate loading the new ferries.
The MV Salish, which was taken off of the route, needed to move away from the dock before the Kennewick moved into loading position.
When the Kennewick was inaugurated in early January, it was expected to be in service the first month of the year.
It wasn’t clear on Tuesday why the ferry didn’t go into service until mid-February.
It has been undergoing sea trials, and crew members have been trained, state ferries spokespeople have said.
The Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries were built for the state by Vigor Shipyards — formerly Todd Pacific — for $213.2 million.
All of them now have serviced the Port Townsend-Coupeville route.
The MV Chetzemoka, the first ferry in the Kwa-di Tabil class, began service in November 2010.
It was followed by the Salish, the second ferry in the class, in last July.
In October, the ferry system announced that the Chetzemoka would be moved to the Fort Defiance-Talequah route on a permanent basis.
The Salish will return to the Port Townsend/Coupeville route to provide two-boat service with the Kennewick on May 13, with single-boat service resuming in the fall.
Until it returns, the Salish is on standby status at the state’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility at Bainbridge Island.
It will be used as a backup vessel throughout the state ferries system through the winter and spring.
Two boats provided service on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route last summer for the first time since 2007, when the Steel Electric-style ferries were taken out of service and year-round ferry service was provided by a single boat leased from Pierce County.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
