Kwa-di Tabil Class Design & Construction

[FNS]

Nov 3, 2010 21:04:51 GMT -8 Barnacle said:

A worthy sight none the less.

Once upon a time I had a contact in a local Volkswagen club. I wanted to know how many Beetles we could get on the Cathlamet... we tried to figure out a way to do it, but never got it worked out. Can you imagine the racket of 140 Beetles all firing up?

That would really be music to my ears!

We had one in the family back in the 1960s. A nice blue one. And, with a nice large back window as well. When I was little, I used to tap my hands on the horn, which bothered my dad a bit. Sounded a bit like the Road Runner (poor Wile E Coyote!). Lovely sound!

BEEP!! BEEP!! ;D




This is what I looked forward to seeing on Channel Seven Saturday mornings, if I woke up in time.

Hopefully, I'll get up in time in my Port Townsend hotel room Monday morning, November 15, for the CHETZY's first public trip at 0630PST.

[FNS]

Nov 4, 2010 12:36:47 GMT -8 @4roads said:

You also forgot one other thing on Saturday morning, and also early weekdays on KIRO.

J.P. Patches, Gertude, and Ketchikan The Animal Man.

All coming at ya to throughout the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern B.C. from The City Dump.

Yes! Can't forget those wonderful people. Also, let us not forget Stan Boreson, Brakeman Bill, Wunda Wunda, and Don McCune to name a few.

[Low Light Mike]

Signs of anticipation at Port Townsend, on October 27, 2010:
-------------------

A sampling of the banners around town:










Some stained-glass in a store-front window:




And the local park is happy about the new ferry too ;D:

[Deleted]

I'm new to the party here, so I hope all forgive me for asking things already well discussed. I'm a retired blue-sea chief engineer who lives in P.T. I saw the Chetz for the first time today at the lay slip in P.T. Two things stood out--the 2°(?) list and the massive sides. I've read through many pages that discuss the ramp & bulwarks, wheels, exposed shafting & rudder, etc. A couple of questions:

Why is she listing? Can't the naval artichokes add the weights and moments correctly?

Does anyone expect fewer weather cancellations than the STII given the huge sail area of these new boats?

I'm not an EMD fan, although they have their beneficial attributes. What's the story with the main engines and other machinery in these boats?

What is the machinery and layout? What's the story of one-end-total-failure due to machinery failure?

Anything else of importance seem wrong?


I have no lack of faith in WashDOT and Todds to screw everything up. Thanks in advance for your replies.

[rusty]

The elevator/machinery casing is on the low side, they also did not install the lift deck which would of countered some of the list. I don't know why they don't install fixed ballast, I would assume it has something to do with stability and load carrying ability.

The engines were already bought for the 144 build program. As I understand it, they are the same size as on the Island Home. This boat is fixed-pitch, and the engines need to have more power to reverse.

If you lose power in one end, the other end will still work. It can be very, very, very tricky to land the boat single ended. There used to be Captains around who might try when sober, but that brand of seafarer is getting rare.

[lifc]

Go back into the writings here in this thread, you will see the almost heated debates on the design's, viability, if nothing else it's entertaining.

Despite our differences of opinion, we all are proponents of Ferry travel.

Jim

[Barnacle]

Nov 6, 2010 13:36:44 GMT -8 rusty said:

The elevator/machinery casing is on the low side,

I would think it's CAUSING the low side.

If you lose power in one end, the other end will still work. It can be very, very, very tricky to land the boat single ended. There used to be Captains around who might try when sober, but that brand of seafarer is getting rare.

That's because there are no longer any thanks for achieving things like that, just plenty of critics if it doesn't go flawlessly.

[EGfleet]

State’s Newest Ferry Over Budget, but Total Package Shouldn’t Be
By Ed Friedrich--Kitsapsun

PORT TOWNSEND — The new ferry Chetzemoka, which will be christened on Sunday, came in $2.5 million over budget.

But Washington State Ferries believes it can still get three of the 64-car boats for the $213.2 million it had planned to spend.

The Chetzemoka’s final price tag is $79.4 million, 3.2 percent more than the projected cost of $76.9 million. The state contracted with Todd Pacific Shipyards of Seattle for $65.5 million of the work.

Todd fell three months behind schedule because of errors in drawings it was provided, and design changes required by the Coast Guard. The state authorized overtime, at a cost of $4.2 million, to let the shipyard try to catch up, ferries spokeswoman Joy Goldenberg said. It couldn’t, and the Chetzemoka was delivered on Sept. 15 instead of the June 29 due date.

Todd wasn’t paid for its work from June 29 to Sept. 15 and in fact was penalized the maximum of $300,000 for late delivery, Goldenberg said.

Factors contributing to the overrun included:

* The Coast Guard required thicker windows on the car deck to conform to new fire regulations.

* Pipe was changed from PVC to stainless steel to meet flooding requirements.

* Elevator doors were widened and stairwells adjusted to meet ADA requirements.

The ensuing Kwa-di Tabil Class ferries, the Salish and Kennewick, are 60 percent and 16 percent complete, respectively. They’re under budget, according to WSF. Lessons learned while building the Chetzemoka will allow the three boats to be completed for the budgeted total of $213.2 million.

The public is invited to participate Sunday when the 64-car Chetzemoka will be feted on both sides of its new route — Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. After ceremonies at the Coupeville terminal, including christening by Gov. Chris Gregoire, the boat will take the governor, legislators, state and local officials and about 300 invited guests on a one-hour cruise to Port Townsend. There, representatives of the Klallam tribes will conduct a ceremony aboard the Chetzemoka at 12:30 p.m. The boat will be available for public viewing from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

The 750-passenger ferry was named for Klallam Chief Chetzemoka, who was known as a peaceful man and wise diplomat. He died in 1888.


Read more: www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/nov/08/states-newest-ferry-over-budget-total-package-shou/#ixzz14k444saP

[rusty]

I heard rumor that WSDOT intends to install shaft brakes on the CHETZEMOKA. I would assume that means they will not retrofit the boat with controllable pitch propellers. She'll work fine up in the Islands.

I also found out today how to take the list out of the CHETZEMOKA, all you got to do is tilt your head.

[lmtengs]

Rumour... how often have these been true?

Couldn't they remove the list by just adding a bit of ballast to one of her ballast tanks?

[rusty]

Nov 8, 2010 18:00:11 GMT -8 @lmtengs said:

Rumour... how often have these been true?

Couldn't they remove the list by just adding a bit of ballast to one of her ballast tanks?

As to the shaft brakes, time will tell. Though, with several million for the installation of CPPs, the cost of the CHETZEMOKA comes painfully close to the cost of the PUYALLUP--in inflation adjusted dollars.

There are no ballast tanks on WSF ferries. Fixed (solid) ballast has been added to other ferries to achieve trim. It's a mystery to me why this hasn't been done on the CHETZEMOKA. Besides, it's easier just to tilt your head, though everything else then has a list.

[Deleted]

Once the Chetzemoka is fully loaded with vehicles, will the list be counteracted? There are more lanes for vehicles on the uphill side of the list, it seems to make sense that with a full load she might actually level herself out.

[lmtengs]

Ah, maybe we've all been missing something for all this time!
Good thinking, Mcc!

[Barnacle]

Nov 8, 2010 17:48:36 GMT -8 rusty said:

I heard rumor that WSDOT intends to install shaft brakes on the CHETZEMOKA. I would assume that means they will not retrofit the boat with controllable pitch propellers. She'll work fine up in the Islands.

No she won't. The KdT class boats will be useless anywhere because of that off-center fidley that makes the outside lane difficult to access. Inter-island traffic needs to be able to take a full lap on the car deck, and that just won't be able to happen from what I've seen in the pictures and heard from the deckhands who roll their eyes when you ask.

[Barnacle]

Nov 9, 2010 13:26:45 GMT -8 @mcc said:

Once the Chetzemoka is fully loaded with vehicles, will the list be counteracted? There are more lanes for vehicles on the uphill side of the list, it seems to make sense that with a full load she might actually level herself out.

We'll see... I only know gossip as to how effective that will be.

[Low Light Mike]

Nov 9, 2010 15:18:48 GMT -8 Barnacle said:

The KdT class boats will be useless anywhere because of that off-center fidley that makes the outside lane difficult to access. Inter-island traffic needs to be able to take a full lap on the car deck, and that just won't be able to happen from what I've seen in the pictures and heard from the deckhands who roll their eyes when you ask.

Just to speculate on the happenings if WS-DOT mandates that one of the KdT ferries are used as the San Juan inter-island.

1) WS-DOT orders a WSF manager to use the Salish (for example) as the San Juan inter-island ferry.

2) WSF management tries to make it work, and instructs the deck officers on the ship to "make it work".

3) Deck officers instruct car-drivers to try to make the turn at the end of the deck, and cars scrape themselves on the ferry.
- after yelling is completed, car owners sue WS-DOT.

3a) Deck officers instruct car-drivers to drive-on "backwards" onto the ship, so that they will be loaded facing the proper direction.
- Loading takes much longer, and schedules aren't met. Residents complain to WS-DOT, who filters that down to WSF who instructs the ship deck officers to again "make it work".
- Residents are asked to speed-up their backwards driving down the ramp & onto the ferry, they scrape their cars on the ferry and on other cars. After yelling at the deck-officers, the residents sue WS-DOT for the repairs to the damaged cars.

--------

ps: I'm likely wrong on the chain of command protocols, but you get the idea of my post.

[rusty]

Nov 9, 2010 15:18:48 GMT -8 Barnacle said:

Nov 8, 2010 17:48:36 GMT -8 rusty said:

I heard rumor that WSDOT intends to install shaft brakes on the CHETZEMOKA. I would assume that means they will not retrofit the boat with controllable pitch propellers. She'll work fine up in the Islands.

No she won't. The KdT class boats will be useless anywhere because of that off-center fidley that makes the outside lane difficult to access. Inter-island traffic needs to be able to take a full lap on the car deck, and that just won't be able to happen from what I've seen in the pictures and heard from the deckhands who roll their eyes when you ask.

Well, Barnacle, they say you're getting a KdT up there whether you want it, or not. I believe a boat with CPP's will work much better on the PT/Key route, so it's wishful thinking on my part that we take the SALISH, and you guys get the CHETZEMOKA.

[Barnacle]

Maybe so, maybe not. Whether or not it is forced upon us doesn't have any bearing on if it "works fine" or not.

Can you put the Hiyu on the Mukilteo-Clinton run? Yes. Will it work fine? Not as such.

[rusty]

Nov 9, 2010 13:26:45 GMT -8 @mcc said:

Once the Chetzemoka is fully loaded with vehicles, will the list be counteracted? There are more lanes for vehicles on the uphill side of the list, it seems to make sense that with a full load she might actually level herself out.

Of course you can load to trim the boat. It's just that no WSF ferry in the last 30-plus years has had that much list (I've heard it's 5 degrees). The venerable KLICKITAT had about a degree and a half list.

There will be times when there will not be a load to counteract the list. I've heard they plan to swap ends and then load, when needed, so as to avoid excessive wind heel.

[lmtengs]

Couldn't they just put all the vehicles on the light-side, then, Rusty?

[rusty]

I suppose, but from what I was told it will take more than a few cars, more like trucks, to trim the boat.

The ISLAND HOME has a list, and this list is more pronounced on the CHETZEMOKA because the lift decks were not installed. It's all a bit conjecture on my part, but we will find out after the unveiling this Sunday.

With the list as is, at the very least, it will increase loading and unloading time.

[steamfan]

Apparently Chetzemoka I had a fairly severe list herself. It was a problem during her years in regular service at Columbia Beach because of the lack of finger panels on the apron at the time. The crew wound up making 'jam mats' out of old mooring lines in order to properly support the apron and keep from tearing off too many tailpipes in the loading process.

[moonman]

I still think after the Chetz is beat up and the Salish is online that the Chetzemoka ends up at Point Defiance where the CPP's will not be so important.

it is unlikely the E-State will move to the Triangle. at least not successfully. the Ping-Pong there will kill the old girl in short order.

[Barnacle]

Nov 9, 2010 22:39:58 GMT -8 moonman said:

it is unlikely the E-State will move to the Triangle. at least not successfully. the Ping-Pong there will kill the old girl in short order.

I don't know if that will kill her... the bigger problem is that taking away the Issaquah removes the only full-height boat from the Triangle. Anything really big will have to find a different way out to the island.

[EGfleet]

Finally, a new ferry returns to Whidbey Island
By JUSTIN BURNETT
Whidbey News Times Staff reporter
Nov 09 2010, 3:53 PM · UPDATED

Beginning next week, for the first time in about three years, Central Whidbey will once again be served by its very own vessel.

Indeed, the celebration planned for Sunday, Nov. 14, will not only mark the arrival of the Chetzemoka — the first new ferry the state has built in more than a decade — to the Coupeville-to-Port Townsend ferry route, but it also marks the end of years of Band-Aid service on the run.

In the years following the sudden retirement of the Steel Electrics in November of 2007, the run has been served by a variety of vessels never meant for regular use across Washington State Ferries’ roughest route, from whale watching boats and high-speed passenger ferries to the little 50-car Steilacoom II on lease from Pierce County.

But while the Chetzemoka is arriving just in time for what experts predict will be a severe winter, the boat’s welcoming is bitter sweet. Just this past week, the community was rocked by the news that the second boat being constructed for the run may never make it to Whidbey Island due to possible state budget cuts.

Central Whidbey and Port Townsend leaders are only just beginning to organize their response, but it appears that what was being hailed as a major milestone may just be the first victory in what could be an ongoing battle to restore full service on the ferry route.

Bells and whistles

With her fresh coat of paint, purring twin 3,000 horsepower engines, and gleaming superstructure, the 273-foot Chetzemoka is sure to get more than a few low whistles of admiration. And that’s as it should be, according to Marta Coursey, communications director for Washington State Ferries.

“This is a bright, shiny, brand new boat,” she said. “I think you’ll see a lot of elation from the community.”

The $76.5 million vessel has been in sea trials since July, and while several kinks have had to be sorted out — the original inaugural sail date set for late August was delayed due to a vibration issue — the Chetzemoka is everything the public should expect from a 21st century ferry.

From articulating rudders that provide the vessel with superior maneuverability to glimmering electronics that tell how deep the boat sits in the water when under load, a chore that used to be accomplished by hanging a tape measurer over the side, the Chetzemoka is nothing like its Steel Electric predecessors.

A full 17 feet longer and with engines that were once destined for a 144-car ferry, the new vessel is both larger and faster. In fact, while the official sailing schedule isn’t expected to change, commuters can likely expect to shave up to five minutes off their travel time.

Although WSF’s vendor, CDX Ferry Concessions, isn’t expected to start service until mid-week, commuters can also look forward to the return of a full service galley. That includes the sale of beer and wine. But what people will likely notice more than anything else is the ferry’s outside appearance, according to Mark Haupt, a senior captain with Washington State Ferries.

Missing portholes

“The vessel looks radically different in large part due to new fire regulations,” Haupt said.

For starters, there are no portholes at the car deck level. While it presents a dark and cavernous appearance, it diminishes the risk of fire, he said. Also, a massive stairwell built onto the port (left) side of the ferry was constructed to serve as a safe house for the entire ship’s complement of 750 passengers in the event of a major fire.

The safeguard does have a downside, however. According to Haupt, the heavy internal steel structure gives the vessel a noticeable list. It’s so pronounced that crew members have nicknamed the ferry the “I-Lean.” Combined with the large sail area created by the lack of portholes in the car deck, Haupt said it could result in cancellations in windy weather, which wouldn’t have happened with the Steel Electrics.

“It’s another factor we didn’t have before,” he said.

Improved reliability

However, he also said that while it is a concern it’s not “overriding.” The Chetzemoka has a shallower draft, more power, and greater maneuverability than its progenitors, all of which add up to increased reliability and service, he said.

According to Coursey, Sunday’s ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Coupeville terminal with a christening by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Although the ceremony is open to the public, the following trip to Port Townsend is by invitation only. Additional ceremonies, including a blessing from Klallam tribal leaders, will take place there. The Chetzemoka will not actually go into service until the following day.

Unexpected news

While little doubt has been expressed over the new ferry’s capabilities, there is considerable worry on Central Whidbey that this will be the only boat the run will get.

Responding to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s statewide budget cut directives, Washington State Ferries has outlined a plan to trim $17 million from its budget. About $10.5 million could be saved by keeping the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry route a one-boat run year around. The Salish, a sister ship to the Chetzemoka and the second of three to be constructed, would instead serve the San Juan Islands.

Nothing has been finalized, nor will it be until the state Legislature convenes in 2011, but Central Whidbey business leaders and local and state elected officials have all expressed irritation over the sudden and unexpected news.

“I’m not completely panicked, I’m annoyed,” said Sarah Richards, owner of Lavender Wind Farm off West Beach Road.

Richards was among a group of Whidbey Island merchants who traveled to Olympia in February of 2008 after state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond decided to pull the high-speed passenger ferry filling in for the Steel Electrics so it could be used as a special shopping ferry to shuttle people between Seattle and Port Townsend.

The group was successful in both securing mitigation funds in 2008 and 2009, and was instrumental in thwarting early plans to replace the Steel Electrics with three vessels of the Steilacoom II design, plans that were supported by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano, the chair of the powerful Senate Transportation Committee.

Haugen vows 2 boats

Keeping the route a one-boat run will be significant step back from three years ago when two Steel Electrics operated at full capacity during the busy spring and summer months. The norm then was for traffic in the ferry holding line to back up around Camp Casey.

“If we only have one boat, it’s the equivalent of winter service all year long,” Richards said.

Ian Jefferds, chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee and owner of Penn Cove Shellfish, said the importance of the ferry run is constantly underestimated. It’s not just a transportation link between Whidbey Island and the Olympic Peninsula. It’s a bridge for healthy and sustainable commerce that has been operating at minimal capacity for years.

“The two boats would only get us back to where we were three years ago,” he said.

Haugen, who said she learned of the possible budget cuts with everyone else last week, has vowed to fight for the second vessel. While ferry routes in Southern Puget Sound get the most attention, she said she was confident of a favorable outcome.

“We’re building three boats and two are going on this run,” Haugen said.

“I’m chairman of the Transportation Committee,” she said. “I write the budget.”

But Central Whidbey merchants may not leave it to chance. Both Richards and Jefferds say that getting both boats will also require a strong and unified voice from Whidbey Island and that it wouldn’t be too surprising if another group heads back to Olympia this February. Legislators and ferry officials alike have to know that one-boat service is unacceptable, they said.

“It’s going to be up to the people of Whidbey Island and Port Townsend to let them know this is not a good proposal,” Jefferds said.

Vessel statistics

Chetzemoka:

• LENGTH: 273 ft.

• BEAM: 64 ft.

• DRAFT: 11 ft.

• PASSENGERS: 750

• VEHICLES: 64

• DECK CLEARANCE: 16 ft.

• HORSEPOWER: 3,000

• SPEED IN KNOTS: 16

• PROPULSION: Electric diesel

• TONNAGE: 4,623

• BUILT: 2010

Steel Electrics:

• LENGTH: 256 ft.

• BEAM: 73 ft., 9 in.

• DRAFT: 12 ft., 9 in.

• PASSENGERS: 616

• VEHICLES: 64

• DECK CLEARANCE: 13 ft., 9 in.

• HORSEPOWER: 2,896

• SPEED IN KNOTS: 12

• PROPULSION: Diesel

• TONNAGE: 1,368

• BUILT: 1927

Sunday christening in Coupeville

The christening of the Chetzemoka begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Coupeville terminal Sunday, Nov. 14. The ceremony will result in the cancellation of three roundtrip sailings. Cancelled sailings include the 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. trips from Port Townsend, and the 8:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. trips from Coupeville. Vehicle reservations are available for all other sailings aboard the SteilacoomII.