Port Townsend’s new ferry, the MV Chetzemoka, was christened by the governor before hundreds of people on Whidbey Island when the vessel was placed into service between Port Townsend and Coupeville (Keystone) in November.
The Chetzemoka’s twin, the MV Salish, still under construction at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, will be christened in relative private this afternoon — and before the state Department of Transportation takes possession of the multimillion-dollar vessel.
The Associated Press confirmed that State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and officials with Washington State Ferries, Todd Pacific Shipyards and other interested parties will participate in and view the christening of the second vessel in the new Kwa-di Tabil (64-car) class of ferries at 4:30 p.m.
The Salish is not scheduled for sea trials until later this month.
Spokespeople for the state Department of Transportation and Todd would not say why the hastily arranged christening. Port Townsend officials and civic leaders involved in the ferry controversy told the Peninsula Daily News today that they had not been notified until this morning.
