WSF wants bigger ships

Washington State Ferries (WSF) in the USA is considering scrapping its proposed 130-car ferry programme and replacing it with 144-car ferries, a change that could cost at least $15 million.

Although no final decision has been made, a spokesman for the company says it may make more sense to build bigger ferries now to accommodate the growing population in Kitsap County and other areas served by the ferry system. He said the state conducted a feasibility study of the larger vessels after the Washington Legislature this year put money in the budget to replace the 144-car ?Hyak?, a Super Class ferry built in 1967 that is in need of major repair or replacement.

The spokesman said it seemed to make little sense for the state to build four 130-car ferries and one 144-car ferry, when the same design could be used for all five. A feasibility study indicated a bigger vessel would not cost more to staff or operate and essentially would mean adding 18 feet to the length and adding about $3 million to the cost of each newbuilding. The new 130-car ferries were expected to cost about $68 million each.

At present, the state doesn’t have the money for the larger ships but from a planning perspective the idea is a viable alternative and would lead to standardizing the fleet. The state in February announced that it had chosen Todd Shipyards of Seattle as the only shipyard qualified to build the new state ferries. Martinac Shipyards of Tacoma appealed that decision, asserting it, too, should be allowed to bid on the lucrative contract.

Last month an administrative-law judge sided with Martinac, saying the financial pre-qualification of the shipyard should not have been denied. In an unusual process, the state is appealing that decision to WSF.