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Post by hergfest on Jun 9, 2007 16:16:11 GMT -8
The press release mentions replacing the Walla Walla with a "slightly smaller vessel" which means the Hyak or Kaleetan to me, and the Sealth will replace the Kitsap which will replace the Issaquah. The Walla Walla will replace the Puyallup and she will replace the Tacoma. Got that all? This is assuming the Elwha is back, I am assuming
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Post by hergfest on May 22, 2007 10:07:46 GMT -8
I see the Sealth back at Vashon once she is done, that is what they have done in past years. Then probably the Kaleetan will go up to the San Juans with the Kitsap back at Bremerton. Of course that is all out the window if the Tacoma gets painted this summer. In that case, Evergreen to Vashon (or maybe a Steel Electric?)?
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Post by hergfest on May 20, 2007 18:03:58 GMT -8
WSF always has always put the Puyallup on the Bainbridge run when the Tacoma or Wenatchee is out.
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Post by hergfest on Jan 31, 2008 0:01:03 GMT -8
The Rhody and Olympic both used to serve this route, and I think they would have the same rough weather capability as the Pierce County boats. But for the long term, I think WSF and the State should stick to designs that can be used throughout the system. While IMHO a better idea than the Pierce County designe, building a "Island Home" boat would be totally different from anything else in the fleet.
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Post by hergfest on Nov 30, 2007 0:19:39 GMT -8
First off, the draft of the Steel Electrics is 12'9", this comes from the WSF website. Second, I believe the Howe Sound Queen has a service speed of only 10 or 11 knots, which isn't good enough.
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Post by hergfest on Nov 29, 2007 2:47:21 GMT -8
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Post by hergfest on Nov 28, 2007 20:42:29 GMT -8
WSF did a good study and found that new Issaquah type vessels were the best in the long run, and they ended up moving them from 130 car boats to 144 car boats. This was dependent on Keystone Harbor being modified or moved, and it looks like that won't happen now. This was a move to standardization of the fleet and it made sense financially. If they built a "Keystone" ferry, it will cost much more in the long run. In other news, I was reading an article on the Seattle Times website last night that said WSF is looking into a congressional waiver of the Jones Act to get a boat "from British Columbia". What boat I have no idea, but I am sure BC Ferries would have at least one boat that would work.
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Post by hergfest on Nov 28, 2007 1:18:28 GMT -8
I am sure the State will find something they need to study before anything is built. How about this, use one of the 50 studies in the past about this and make a decision? Oh wait, this is the State of Washington we are talking about.
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Post by hergfest on Nov 21, 2007 13:39:20 GMT -8
The Puyallup just showed up on GPS at Kingston, so I guess they are going to run three Jumbos today unless the Walla Walla or Spokane goes down to Bremerton.
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Post by hergfest on Nov 21, 2007 13:01:29 GMT -8
Hammond said this morning that the Quinault will tried to be fixed first, and the soonest the route would be back in service would be January. Anyone know what the third boat on Edmonds/Kingston will be? Nothing has shown up on the GPS yet.
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Post by hergfest on Oct 12, 2007 23:28:00 GMT -8
As of right now, that is their solution. The communities on both sides, especially Port Townsend, didn't want bigger boats "flooding the town" with cars. Plus it would probably mean decreased service during the summer as they could keep only one boat on the run and keep up with traffic.
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Post by hergfest on Dec 1, 2006 21:20:25 GMT -8
How many times has the state studied this issue? Seems like anytime someone complains they restart the process. They can't make everyone happy. I am still in favor of the out-of-harbor plan. It solves most of the problems.
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Post by hergfest on Oct 23, 2006 23:25:35 GMT -8
WSF is still studying what to do with Keystone. The newest option is to build out of harbor south of the current terminal. This would provide direct access to SR 525 which would solve a lot of resident complains about traffic.
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Post by hergfest on Aug 16, 2007 10:54:47 GMT -8
The Tacoma is getting painted now due to weather. It is better to paint boats in the summer.
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Post by hergfest on Aug 14, 2007 19:40:18 GMT -8
Elwha broke down tonight, they canceled the 3:10pm round trip to Friday Harbor due to "engine problems". Looks like she is running now. At least WSF says what is wrong with the boat, unlike BC Ferries which everything is an "operational issue".
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Post by hergfest on Aug 8, 2007 15:12:24 GMT -8
Well, it's official: The Elwha is back this weekend!
SEATTLE - Washington State Ferries will be making a number of vessel changes this weekend to accommodate the need for vessel maintenance.
San Juans
The MV Elwha will replace a sister ship, the MV Kaleetan in the San Juan Islands. These vessels are the same size so there will be no impact to service.
Seattle/Bremerton
On Sunday, August 12, the smaller Kaleetan (144-car) will replace the slightly larger MV Walla Walla (188-car) on the Seattle/Bremerton route. While it carries fewer vehicles, the Kaleetan carries 500 more passengers. Customers are encouraged to either leave a vehicle on either side of the water and walk on the ferry or, to ease loading, commuters can also join with friends in setting up three person temporary carpools. Interested commuters can contact Nicole Patrick at Patricn@wsdot.wa.gov or 206.515.3857 for more information.
Edmonds/Kingston
The Walla Walla will replace the slightly larger MV Puyallup (202-cars) on the Edmonds/Kingston route while the Puyallup goes to the Seattle/Bainbridge route to replace its sister ship, MV Tacoma. The Tacoma and the Puyallup are the same size so there will be no change in service on the Seattle/Bainbridge route.
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Post by hergfest on Sept 24, 2006 21:00:55 GMT -8
That would be a big hit to car capacity up there. You are already down with the Chelan in for the Elwha.
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Post by hergfest on Sept 11, 2006 23:17:20 GMT -8
I did a trip to San Juan Island today. Rode on the Yakima on the way there, and the Hyak on the way back. The Yakima did seem too have more rust than the Hyak, but the Hyak still has her 1960's interior which is looking pretty shabby. The Yakima's interior looked really nice cept for dirty floors. Also got to see the Elwha in the drydock at Dakota Creek, you can get pretty close to her. All of her windows are covered up for painting. One thing that I noticed is that the three Supers in service get tied up at Anacortes overnight, and since the Elwha is only about two miles from Anacortes, all four sisters are together!
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Post by hergfest on Jun 16, 2007 15:29:14 GMT -8
The smokestack is out of proportion, but otherwise I think they are nice looking boats.
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Post by hergfest on Jun 15, 2007 23:04:30 GMT -8
Sounds like the design might change.
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Post by hergfest on Dec 31, 2006 12:30:14 GMT -8
I was going through some old Seattle Times articles today and in a transportation article it said the first boat will be in service June 2009.
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Post by hergfest on Oct 26, 2006 0:10:19 GMT -8
First, there is no point in upgrading the Evergreen State's propulsion system because she is due to be retired very soon. She is over 50 years old now. Second, there were problems with the Jumbo Mark II boats. Todd went way overbudget with them, and it ended up costing the state a bunch on money. Which is one reason they want the shipyards to take some risk.
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Post by hergfest on Oct 23, 2006 23:34:58 GMT -8
I don't blame either shipyard. Looks to me like WSF wants to design the boats, then make the shipyards take all the risk. If WSF screws up, the shipyard has to pay up.
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Post by hergfest on Oct 5, 2006 20:37:34 GMT -8
BC Ferries does the speed differential with the Esquimalt running on Route 2 with the C-Class. She just has to stop after two round trips to let the C-Class pass her.
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Post by hergfest on Aug 29, 2006 20:34:29 GMT -8
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