Todd Pacific Shipyards delivered the MV Salish ferry, which is destined for the Port Townsend-Coupeville route, to the state ferries system Thursday.
The 64-car Salish ferry is expected to restore two-boat service to the Port Townsend-Coupeville route in July.
“We feel a great sense of satisfaction after having built and delivered this complex vessel,” said Steve Welch, president of Todd Pacific Shipyards, in a statement released by Washington State Ferries.
“It’s going to transport millions of passengers for the next 50 years or more. That’s a huge accomplishment.”
Modifications
The Salish was towed from Todd’s Harbor Island location to Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island at the close of business Thursday, the state ferries system said.
Early next week, the ferry will be towed to Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes and then will return late this month to Eagle Harbor, where state Department of Transportation crews will add more landing lights, finish outfitting the rescue boats and close gaps in the handrails, the statement said. Shipyard crews also completed touch-up painting and cleaning over the past week.
After these modifications, the Salish will be ready for crews to train onboard, first around Puget Sound and later on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route.
The Salish originally was to be delivered May 5 but was delayed a week to finish demonstrations for the Coast Guard to receive a certificate of inspection. It is the second of three Kwa-di Tabil Class boats contracted by the state at a cost of $213.2 million to be built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle.
Third ferry for state
The first, the MV Chetzemoka, began service on the Port Townsend-Coupeville run in November while the third, the MV Kennewick — destined for the Point Defiance-to-Tahlequah route once it enters service sometime this winter — is now under construction.
“We’re excited about the Salish, and we can hardly wait to get two boats back in service for the Coupeville and Port Townsend communities,” said Assistant Secretary David Moseley.
Both the Salish and the Chetzemoka will operate on the route until Sept. 25, when one of the boats will be used to cover routes throughout the system as boats are taken in for servicing, the state ferries system said.
Two-boat service on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route will resume in the spring.
For more information about the new ferries, visit http://tinyurl.com/27fxjkd.
