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Post by R30A on Mar 18, 2019 7:05:55 GMT -8
While I am certainly not going to say you are wrong, I think a far bigger issue than age is the absolutely absurdly small spare factor WSF keeps.
A significantly larger fleet is needed than is currently owned by the state to actually provide the services they schedule with any reliability.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Mar 18, 2019 8:28:37 GMT -8
While I am certainly not going to say you are wrong, I think a far bigger issue than age is the absolutely absurdly small spare factor WSF keeps. A significantly larger fleet is needed than is currently owned by the state to actually provide the services they schedule with any reliability. I doubt that many ferry operators have the luxury of a significant number of spares. The biggest issue with WSF is the age of the fleet. We've gotten too used to the false economy of maintaining old boats on this coast, and it has to change.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 28, 2019 14:16:41 GMT -8
Ferry Alert: Ana/SJI - Update - Reduced capacity starting Friday, March 29
"Beginning Friday, March 29, there will be reduced vehicle capacity on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route when the 90-car Sealth begins service as vessel #2, replacing the 144-car Yakima.
Effective today, the Yakima replaces the 144-car Hyak, moving from position #2 position #3, beginning with the Anacortes 2:10 pm to Friday Harbor. The Sealth carries about 50 fewer vehicles than the Yakima."
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Post by EGfleet on Apr 19, 2019 7:44:47 GMT -8
Gov. Inslee asking for lawmakers to fund 2 new ferriesby Kara Kostanich | KOMO NewsThursday, April 18th 2019 SEATTLE — Lawmakers in Olympia are trying figure out how the state will fund two new Washington State ferries. In June the fleet will lose a vessel. This comes as ridership soars.
The MV Hyak has been pushing passengers through the waters of Puget Sound for more than 50 years.
In June she’ll retire as the fleet’s relief vessel leaving just 22 ferry boats to transport more 25 million people through the system annually.
“We have several vessels in that class of that age,” said Ian Sterling, spokesperson for Washington State Ferries. “They are going to need similar repairs, and does it make sense to repair them or put money toward a new vessel?”
Just last year the state paid more than $25 million for a deck repair on the 52-year-old MV Elwha. A new vessel would run the state between $120 million and $160 million. Gov. Jay Inslee’s current budget is asking lawmakers to fund two new vessels and to convert two ferries to hybrid electric power.
“Couldn’t come fast enough,” said David Henderson, who lives in Bremerton and commutes to Seattle for his business.
And if the money doesn’t come for two new boats, your ferry may not come either.
“If we aren’t able to do that and replace vessels sooner or later, you’re going to lose a ferry boat,” said Sterling.
He adds that could also mean service reduction or even or service cuts. And the possibility of no more international service.
“You go from a four-lane highway, to a two-lane highway, to a one-lane highway, essentially, if you remove a vessel from a route,” said Sterling. “Or you look at maybe abandoning a route. Hopefully we won’t get into that situation but if we aren’t replacing boats we will get there.”
Lawmakers on Thursday were still considering where money for new boats would come from.
“I’m a really 'anti-tax the people for more things' person,” said Kendall Mason, who lives in Bremerton and uses the ferry to get to Seattle, adding she would not be in favor paying for a new vessels.
There is a possibility rates will increase to pay for new boats.
If lawmakers are unable to find a way to fund two new vessels, service, state ferries says, will be forced to change.
“It’s a precious thing that we’ve got – that’s worth the money," said Henderson.
The final state transportation budget is expected to be complete by April 28.
(Bold on the more interesting bits is my doing.)
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Post by paulvanb on Apr 19, 2019 12:56:27 GMT -8
Gov. Inslee asking for lawmakers to fund 2 new ferriesby Kara Kostanich | KOMO NewsThursday, April 18th 2019 SEATTLE — Lawmakers in Olympia are trying figure out how the state will fund two new Washington State ferries. In June the fleet will lose a vessel. This comes as ridership soars.
The MV Hyak has been pushing passengers through the waters of Puget Sound for more than 50 years.
In June she’ll retire as the fleet’s relief vessel leaving just 22 ferry boats to transport more 25 million people through the system annually.
“We have several vessels in that class of that age,” said Ian Sterling, spokesperson for Washington State Ferries. “They are going to need similar repairs, and does it make sense to repair them or put money toward a new vessel?”
Just last year the state paid more than $25 million for a deck repair on the 52-year-old MV Elwha. A new vessel would run the state between $120 million and $160 million. Gov. Jay Inslee’s current budget is asking lawmakers to fund two new vessels and to convert two ferries to hybrid electric power.
“Couldn’t come fast enough,” said David Henderson, who lives in Bremerton and commutes to Seattle for his business.
And if the money doesn’t come for two new boats, your ferry may not come either.
“If we aren’t able to do that and replace vessels sooner or later, you’re going to lose a ferry boat,” said Sterling.
He adds that could also mean service reduction or even or service cuts. And the possibility of no more international service.
“You go from a four-lane highway, to a two-lane highway, to a one-lane highway, essentially, if you remove a vessel from a route,” said Sterling. “Or you look at maybe abandoning a route. Hopefully we won’t get into that situation but if we aren’t replacing boats we will get there.”
Lawmakers on Thursday were still considering where money for new boats would come from.
“I’m a really 'anti-tax the people for more things' person,” said Kendall Mason, who lives in Bremerton and uses the ferry to get to Seattle, adding she would not be in favor paying for a new vessels.
There is a possibility rates will increase to pay for new boats.
If lawmakers are unable to find a way to fund two new vessels, service, state ferries says, will be forced to change.
“It’s a precious thing that we’ve got – that’s worth the money," said Henderson.
The final state transportation budget is expected to be complete by April 28.
(Bold on the more interesting bits is my doing.)
Isn't the state making a killing off of legalized weed?
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 19, 2019 15:52:30 GMT -8
Governor Inslee will be on the hot seat about getting this very necessary procurement DONE as he will be asking for support in his bid to become the Democratic nominee for President! Can he DELIVER?
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Post by Kahloke on Apr 21, 2019 17:10:24 GMT -8
He adds that could also mean service reduction or even or service cuts. And the possibility of no more international service. Cutting the international run may be the way to go even if 2 new ferries are funded. I like the Sidney route, but it's costly to maintain vessels to meet SOLAS requirements and it's not essential service. It's strictly a tourist route, and while it's nice to have, can the ferry system really afford it anymore? The Supers are nearing the end of their service lives, and the Issaquah's are having issues, too. Killing Sidney would allow Chelan to be absorbed into the domestic fleet, and possibly allow Elwha to be retired earlier. Anacortes-San Juans could go to year-round 4 vessel service with schedule adjustments to increase service hours in the peak season (May thru October), and reduce service hours during the winter months, as they do now.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Apr 21, 2019 20:38:29 GMT -8
He adds that could also mean service reduction or even or service cuts. And the possibility of no more international service. Cutting the international run may be the way to go even if 2 new ferries are funded. I like the Sidney route, but it's costly to maintain vessels to meet SOLAS requirements and it's not essential service. It's strictly a tourist route, and while it's nice to have, can the ferry system really afford it anymore? The Supers are nearing the end of their service lives, and the Issaquah's are having issues, too. Killing Sidney would allow Chelan to be absorbed into the domestic fleet, and possibly allow Elwha to be retired earlier. Anacortes-San Juans could go to year-round 4 vessel service with schedule adjustments to increase service hours in the peak season (May thru October), and reduce service hours during the winter months, as they do now. There was a report, a couple (or more) years ago that gave some pretty impressive figures as to how much Anacortes and area might lose if the Sidney run was cut. I don't know if those numbers were accurate, but if they were, it speaks to the importance of looking at public expenditures in a much broader fashion than just the dollars spent. Hard to argue, though, that the connection itself is really necessary. Anyone travelling from Washington state to Vancouver Island can use Tsawwassen, Port Angeles, or Seattle if they're not taking a vehicle. I'd be interested to know what it costs WSF to maintain the Sidney terminal... I don't even know if BC Ferries still has the management contract. WSF doesn't publish their capacity utilization figures, so if you want to determine how full the Sidney bound sailings are, on average, you would have to know exactly how many sailings there are, and factor the vehicle totals into that. All in all... it doesn't look good for the future of the route, and it might be hard to construct an argument against its elimination, given the needs of the WSF system and the financial constraints.
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Post by spokaneferry on May 8, 2019 7:50:08 GMT -8
So apparently, the Kaleetan broke down this morning (steering failure) literally right after replacing Chimacum on the Bremerton route. Looks like Hyak is the lone Bremerton boat for the moment. Seems like Kaleetan's had a pretty rough past couple years...
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Post by Kahloke on May 8, 2019 8:31:29 GMT -8
So apparently, the Kaleetan broke down this morning (steering failure) literally right after replacing Chimacum on the Bremerton route. Looks like Hyak is the lone Bremerton boat for the moment. Seems like Kaleetan's had a pretty rough past couple years... All of the Supers have had a rough past couple, or more, years. Guess it's Kaleetan's turn today. The legislature has funded a 5th Olympic Class vessel, to be built in two-three years. Originally, the 5th vessel was to replace Elwha, but the long term plan has Elwha hanging on the longest of the Supers. We will see if that actually happens. www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2019/05/07/lawmakers-fund-washington-state-ferry-service-fee-fare-increase/1132736001/
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Post by Olympic Ferries on May 8, 2019 20:22:05 GMT -8
So apparently, the Kaleetan broke down this morning (steering failure) literally right after replacing Chimacum on the Bremerton route. Looks like Hyak is the lone Bremerton boat for the moment. Seems like Kaleetan's had a pretty rough past couple years... All of the Supers have had a rough past couple, or more, years. Guess it's Kaleetan's turn today. The legislature has funded a 5th Olympic Class vessel, to be built in two-three years. Originally, the 5th vessel was to replace Elwha, but the long term plan has Elwha hanging on the longest of the Supers. We will see if that actually happens. www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2019/05/07/lawmakers-fund-washington-state-ferry-service-fee-fare-increase/1132736001/Any update on SOLAS capability of the 5th & 6th Olympic vessel?
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Post by Kahloke on May 9, 2019 8:59:17 GMT -8
Any update on SOLAS capability of the 5th & 6th Olympic vessel? According to the 2040 Long Range Plan, Olympics 5 & 6 will not be SOLAS certified. If they stick to the plan, and that is a very big IF, Olympic 5 will enter service in 2023 and Olympic 6 in 2024, although I do not think #6 is funded yet. They are supposed to be additions to the fleet, as opposed to replacing vessels. Elwha is now scheduled to be the last Super retired in 2028, and its replacement will be SOLAS certified, again in 2028. That's the long range plan as it currently sits. Now then, I suspect the 2040 plan will change and morph a lot as time moves forward, especially with the deteriorating condition of the Supers, and that we've long since passed the tipping point at which it becomes more viable to replace them rather than repair them (Elwha's steel replacement a case in point), but with nothing to replace them with, there's been no choice but to repair them.
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Post by EGfleet on Jun 18, 2019 5:15:11 GMT -8
Not exactly news at this point, but the tidbit about the Hyak was interesting, and not at all surprising. (She's still in service as of this morning {6/18}. It seems the Spokane isn't ready to take over for the Walla Walla just yet.)
Coupeville ferry loses boat later this month
by Jessie Stensland Friday, June 14, 2019 4:10pmNews
A complicated confluence of considerations means a cut in service for the Coupeville-to-Port Townsend ferry run later this month.
Washington State Ferries announced that, beginning June 24, the route will be reduced to one boat for at least a week.
Ian Sterling, State Ferries spokesman, said one of the main factor leading to the temporary reduction is that the vessel Hyak is being decommissioned at the end of the month because lawmakers decided not to continue funding the boat, which has served as a backup throughout the system.
It wasn’t a big surprise. As Sterling explained, the vessel is “really old and hasn’t been maintained.”
The only reason it’s still in use is thanks to “the Herculean efforts” of the engine crew, he said.
“It will be sold as a non-working vessel,” he said. “We’ve run this thing into the ground.”
The vintage vessel went into service in 1967. As a testament that it’s from a different era, the chairs in the boat were designed to be movable, Sterling said, in order to make space for square dancing.
At the same time, several other vessels in the hard-working fleet require planned maintenance or unexpected fixes. Several engine overhauls on aging vessels had been previously deferred and further delay would mean “an unacceptably high risk for unplanned service disruptions during the summer season,” according to a ferry official.
The 60-year-old Tillikum, for example, needs both main engines overhauled; they are currently 16,000 hours behind the target overhaul interval of 40,000 hours. This boat is so old, Sterling said, that its drive motor is from a surplus World War II destroyer.
In the ensuing shuffle of boats, State Ferries officials looked at ridership numbers and decided that reducing service on the Coupeville-Port Townsend route would affect the least number of people and would have the smaller impact on revenues.
One of the boats from Coupeville will float over to the San Juan Islands for the week of June 24; it will be on the inter-island route, Sterling said.
The hope is that the single-boat service to Coupeville will only be for a week, Sterling said, but it may end up being longer. People planning on taking the ferry might want to consider driving around.
“It’s not a fun way to start out the summer season,” he said.
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Post by Kahloke on Jun 23, 2019 18:22:56 GMT -8
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 1, 2019 14:48:49 GMT -8
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jul 17, 2019 9:11:12 GMT -8
Muk/Clin - Anticipated Vessel Delays w/ #1 Kitsap and #2 Samish
Both vessels on the Mukilteo/Clinton route are operating at reduced speeds today due to needed propulsion system repairs. Schedule delays and longer wait times are anticipated throughout the service day. Updates will be provided when more details are available. The #1 vessel Kitsap is currently running 15 minutes behind schedule.
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Jul 17, 2019 9:40:42 GMT -8
Muk/Clin - Anticipated Vessel Delays w/ #1 Kitsap and #2 SamishBoth vessels on the Mukilteo/Clinton route are operating at reduced speeds today due to needed propulsion system repairs. Schedule delays and longer wait times are anticipated throughout the service day. Updates will be provided when more details are available. The #1 vessel Kitsap is currently running 15 minutes behind schedule. I suppose, how very unfortunate, they only need to take the Kitsap for one more day. Suquamish will return tomorrow morning, luckily.
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 17, 2019 10:48:05 GMT -8
Muk/Clin - Anticipated Vessel Delays w/ #1 Kitsap and #2 SamishBoth vessels on the Mukilteo/Clinton route are operating at reduced speeds today due to needed propulsion system repairs. Schedule delays and longer wait times are anticipated throughout the service day. Updates will be provided when more details are available. The #1 vessel Kitsap is currently running 15 minutes behind schedule. I suppose, how very unfortunate, they only need to take the Kitsap for one more day. Suquamish will return tomorrow morning, luckily. It's interesting how quickly people have gotten accustomed to having 2 144-car ferries on the Mukilteo-Clinton run. Up until Suquamish entered service last fall, a 124-car Issaquah class ferry and the 144-car Tokitae was standard service. And, that's only been since 2014. Before that, two Issaquah 124's was standard.
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Post by Edmondsguy on Jul 17, 2019 14:38:59 GMT -8
Doesn't mean much since before I-695 happen this Run was to have had boats this size and 2 new dock 20 years ago. That and since all the work being done on the Deception Pass Bridge for the next 2 years adds to the traffic on this crossing.
I am Just glad I don't work it. I feel awful for those that do.
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Jul 18, 2019 11:49:40 GMT -8
Doesn't mean much since before I-695 happen this Run was to have had boats this size and 2 new dock 20 years ago. That and since all the work being done on the Deception Pass Bridge for the next 2 years adds to the traffic on this crossing. I am Just glad I don't work it. I feel awful for those that do. How unfortunate things be at Mukilteo. The Samish has been pulled for extended water pump and engine works down at Eagle Harbor, and the Kitsap is expected to stick around with the Suquamish through the weekend, at least.
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Jul 26, 2019 19:03:25 GMT -8
Quite the unfortunate turn of events for Anacortes/SJIs. At least (alnogside lots of convincing), WSF has come to realize that the Kitsap would be more effectively placed as vessel #2, she will run as #5 only for Sunday. Hopefully, they can hurry the Kaleetan out of the drydock soon!
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Post by elwharust on Aug 30, 2019 12:54:50 GMT -8
PD/Tah - Sealth Replaces Chetzemoka Sturday, 8/31
The 90-vehicle capacity M/V Sealth will replace the 64-vehicle capacity M/V Chetzemoka on the route starting Saturday, Aug. 31 at the beginning of the service day. The Sealth is expected to be on the route for about 3 days while the Chetzemoka undergoes unplanned maintenance. Updates will be provided if conditions change.
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Post by EGfleet on Sept 30, 2019 18:37:02 GMT -8
Beginning Tuesday, November 12 through Sunday, December 8, international service between Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney B.C. is cancelled due to required maintenance on both vessels in WSF's fleet certified to run international service to and from Sidney B.C: M/V Elwha and M/V Chelan.
During this period, M/V Kitsap will replace Elwha/Chelan and sail in the #1 vessel position to maintain full 4-vessel service on the domestic San Juan Island routes.
Reservation holders on the cancelled international sailings will not be charged no-show fees. Customers may also choose to change or cancel their reservations without penalty at www.takeaferry.com.
Alternate routes during this period are between Tsawwassen/Swartz Bay on B.C. Ferries, or between Port Angeles/Victoria on the Black Ball Ferry Line.
We apologize for any inconvenience as we work to maintain our fleet.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Dec 4, 2019 20:10:40 GMT -8
This kinda seems minor but reason is reasonable.
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Post by EGfleet on Dec 17, 2019 7:53:19 GMT -8
WSDOT just released the "Gray Notebook" which details the current state of the roads and ferries in the state at the present time. The picture is not a particularly good one. Here's the assessment of the fleet as it stands today, and the dollar figures are in the millions, naturally.
TACOMA Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $12.6 FY2019: $13.1 WENTACHEE Condition in 2019: POOR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $33.2; FY2019: $33.6 PUYALLUP Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $23.8; FY2019: $23.3
SPOKANE Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $10.9; FY2019: $10.9 WALLA WALLA Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $11.8; FY2019: $11.9
KALEETAN Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $1.6; FY2019: $1.6 YAKIMA Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $4.9; FY2019: $9.8 ELWHA Condition in 2019: POOR Preservation Backlog FY2018:$45.5; FY2019: $33.1
TOKITAE Condition in 2019: GOOD Preservation Backlog FY2018: $0; FY2019: 0 SAMISH Condition in 2019: GOOD Preservation Backlog FY2018: $0; FY2019: 0
CHIMACUM Condition in 2019: GOOD Preservation Backlog FY2018: $0; FY2019: 0
SUQUAMISH Condition in 2019: GOOD Preservation Backlog FY2018: $0; FY2019: 0
ISSAQUAH Condition in 2019: POOR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $4.8; FY2019: $8.8 KITSAP Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $4.0; FY2019: $4.0 KITTITAS Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $4.6; FY2019: $8.0 CATHLAMET Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $10.4; FY2019: $10.0 CHELAN Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $3.4; FY 2019: $3.4 SEALTH Condition in 2019: POOR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $6.0; FY 2019: $9.8
TILLIKUM Condition in 2019: FAIR Preservation Backlog FY2018: $4.2; FY2019: $14.6
CHETZEMOKA Condition in 2019: GOOD Preservation Backlog FY2018: $1.8; FY2019: $4.5 SALISH Condition in 2019: GOOD Preservation Backlog FY2018: $.06; FY2019: $3.4 KENNEWICK Condition in 2019: GOOD Preservation Backlog FY2018: $0; FY2019: $2.8
The HYAK was listed in N/A condition because she was retired, but at the time of retirement, she had a backlog of $25.1 million.
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