URGENT! MV Chinook / Snohomish INFO

[NMcKay]

i need ANY info that you might have on either vessel. ill take rumor mill stuff. and confirmed reports..

[Political Incorrectness]

there is some info on the WSF website
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/your_wsf/our_fleet/index.cfm?vessel_id=95

this is about closest I can get to you. None I think have been sold yet though I think a company in San Franscisco might want them but I am not sure just speculation from one of their ferries that made the design of the chinook. They are currently tied up at Eagle Harbour and mothballed. They also waste fuel because they have 4 engines and only use 2. It was a bad design of the engines.

[NMcKay]

I need things like, Where are ther now? (ANSWERED), Where are they going to go? Are they Available for Lease?

[Political Incorrectness]

Currently Mothballed on Bainbridge Island at Eagle Harbor and they are still looking for a buyer. I suggest you send something to the state ferry system if you want more.

[Quinsam]

Mothballed?

[Scott]

Why were they mothballed? Bad fuel efficiency? How come the Chinook is 8 knots faster? Or is that just a typo (on wsf page)?

[Political Incorrectness]

Bad fuel efficiancy. Also, what happend, Bainbridge Island residents wanted money from the state to replace their breakwaters so they blamed the fast ferry saying that it was like a hurricane coming up against their homes when it wasn't. They had to slow down to 16 knots when transiting the passage which waisted fuel. The Ferries could have gotten better efficiency if they had 2 engines cause 2 engines are running full time and the other two dont run at all.

[hergfest]

WSF has been talking about putting them back in service on a Southworth, Vashon, Seattle triangle route. They are both faster than the Skagit or the Kalama. If I-902 passes on Tuesday, this won't happen.

[Political Incorrectness]

Innitative 912 is what you mean I believe to cap off the state gas tax. If it does pass then this is going to be critical.

[Scott]

Did it pass?

[hergfest]

With 2/3 of the votes counted, it is down by 77k votes, 53% to 47%. Although the media has yet to declare a victor, the gap widened throughout yesterday. This means that the measure will be defeated and the gas tax stays. The main ferry related item being funded was a fifth ferry in the new class WSF is making, replacing the Hyak. Although it probably would provide funding for additional passenger only service.

[SS San Mateo]

Gas Tax Foes Concede Defeat:

www.komotv.com/stories/40174.htm

As for passenger-only service, I've heard that the gas tax cannot be used to fund passenger-only service.

-- LB

[Political Incorrectness]

Where can you find out about what projects are going to be funded by the gas tax?

[hergfest]

It's on the WDOT webpage.

[hergfest]

Here is a link:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability/2005GasTax