PORT TOWNSEND— The MV Kennewick, which is scheduled to begin service on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route in January, was delivered to the state ferries system Monday.
The 64-car ferry is the last of the three vessels that were built by Vigor Shipyards (formerly Todd Pacific Shipyards) as part of the Kwa-di Tabil class, and were the first new state ferries in more than 10 years.
“This is a major milestone in our vessel replacement program,” said David Moseley, state ferries chief, in a prepared statement. “The Kwa-di Tabil class is now complete. We’re elated that our partners at Vigor delivered the Kennewick three months ahead of schedule.”
The ferry originally was slated to be delivered in the spring, said Marta Coursey, state ferries system spokeswoman.
First run uncertain
Coursey said the date of the inaugural run, as well as details of the festivities, have not yet been decided, but the Kennewick’s maiden voyage would occur in early to mid-January.
The first Kwa-di Tabil ferry, the MV Chetzemoka, began service on the route between Port Townsend and Keystone on Nov. 20.
It originally was scheduled to begin service on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route in August 2010, but a problem with the propeller caused a three-month delay.
Propeller decision
In October, the ferry system announced that the Chetzemoka would be moved to the Fort Defiance-Talequah route on a permanent basis while the Kennewick and the Salish would alternate on the Port Townsend-Keystone route when two-boat service resumes in the spring.
The reason is the propeller.
Chetzemoka’s fixed pitch propeller was reprogrammed after problems were discovered, but the MV Salish, which went into service in July and the Kennewick were built with a variable pitch propeller.
That allows better navigation of the narrow Keystone Harbor into the Coupeville terminal, state ferry officials said.
In January, the Kennewick will be the only boat on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route while the Salish — which has been the lone boat on the route since Oct. 11 — will be a backup vessel for other ferries in need of service in the winter months.
This will allow the ferry system to operate the new vessel at peak times during its warranty period, state ferries system officials said.
Vigor Shipyards delivered the Kennewick shipyard to the state ferries system’s Eagle Harbor maintenance facility, Coursey said.
Crews will work on final outfitting until mid-November, when it will move to a commercial shipyard for installation of additional rub rails on the sides of the vessel, she said.
In December, the Kennewick is scheduled to return to Eagle Harbor, where state ferries system maintenance crews will complete final outfitting and crew training and sea trials, after which time the new ferry will be visible on the Port Townsend-Keystone route, Coursey said.
The celebration of the inaugural run of the Kennewick will be similar to that put on for the Salish, Coursey said, with the community invited on board and other activities.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
