MV Chetzemoka

[zargoman]

I wouldn't doubt it.
I'd imagine it would be just like a helicopter blade coming off, a potentially lethal rocket if it comes off at the right (or wrong ) angle.

[EGfleet]

Cracks discovered in propellers of year-old Washington State Ferry

By Ed Friedrich
Posted November 9, 2011 at 10:43 a.m., updated November 9, 2011 at 11:01 a.m.

SEATTLE — The state ferry Chetzemoka, after only a year in service, has cracked propellers, potentially from improperly cast stainless steel.

State Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, touring Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes Friday, noticed the 64-car ferry on a lift with its props off and asked what happened.

Dakota Creek dry-docked the boat Oct. 17 for scheduled installation of rub rails. An inspection Oct. 19 by Washington State Ferries inspectors found hairline cracks in one propeller, explained Paul Brodeur, director of vessel maintenance, preservation and engineering. A dye test showed each of the five blades was cracking near the hub. The other prop was checked and had the same problem.

The propellers, which each weigh 7,850 pounds and are 90 inches across, were removed and sent to Sound Propeller in Seattle for analysis and repair. A metallurgical analysis concluded they were cast incorrectly, Brodeur said. The carbon content of the stainless steel was too high.

"High carbon content will tend to make the propeller more brittle with more propensity for porous casting," Brodeur said of air or impurities getting into the steel. "If the casting's porous, you have a propensity for fracturing."

The propellers are being repaired and will be used until replacements can be made, which takes 22 weeks, Brodeur said. The state also is ordering a spare, which it had planned to do and for which it has money in the contract. They cost $70,000 apiece.

Washington State Ferries will pursue a warranty claim for two new props against the Chetzemoka's builder, Vigor Shipyards. Vigor will probably seek a remedy from propeller builder Rolls-Royce Marine.

The boat was beyond its one-year warranty period (it was delivered Sept. 15, 2010), but WSF filed a claim under the latent defects clause. Claims can be made against workmanship or materials after the warranty expires if they couldn't have been reasonably discovered earlier, Brodeur said. This is the first time the Chetzemoka has been out of the water.

Vigor spokesman Steve Hirsh said Rolls-Royce is examining the metallurgy report.

"We're looking at (the problem), Rolls-Royce is looking at it. Between us and Rolls-Royce we will work with Washington State Ferries to see that it is rectified," he said.

The Chetzemoka was the first of three new 64-car ferries and has a fixed-pitch propeller. The other two, the Salish and Kennewick, have variable-pitch props. They are made by a different company, have four blades, are bronze and shouldn't have the same problems.

The Chetzemoka is expected to be ready in time for its next assignment. It's scheduled to replace the Rhododendron on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route in January. The Salish is currently on the Port Townsend run.

Problems with a cooler forced the Chetzemoka into dry dock in August.

Seaquist was disappointed to stumble upon the propeller problem. In 2009, the Legislature passed a proviso directing Washington State Ferries to develop an incident and accident investigation policy. The policy includes keeping the public informed of investigations and their outcomes.

"I think this is yet another example where the ferry system is not forthcoming with the public," Seaquist said. "This is the public's money. Those riders are not customers, they're owners of that ferry, and should know what's going on."

Read more: www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/nov/09/cracks-discovered-in-propellers-of-year-old/#ixzz1dG0g3hX0

[Nick]

Nov 9, 2011 16:22:09 GMT -8 EGfleet said:

Cracks discovered in propellers of year-old Washington State Ferry


Seaquist was disappointed to stumble upon the propeller problem. In 2009, the Legislature passed a proviso directing Washington State Ferries to develop an incident and accident investigation policy. The policy includes keeping the public informed of investigations and their outcomes.

"I think this is yet another example where the ferry system is not forthcoming with the public," Seaquist said. "This is the public's money. Those riders are not customers, they're owners of that ferry, and should know what's going on."

OK. I know I'm not part of the political culture in Washington, or the US in general, but I have a bit of an issue with this statement. Why should WSF have to disclose that the propeller is improperly cast? It's a warranty issue between WSF, the builder, and Rolls Royce. The taxpayer isn't going to be out a dime for fixing this problem, since the ship was in drydock already. As long as Rolls Royce backs their product, it should be fixed without much hassle. The boat was scheduled to be down anyway.

Is this just another example of what American politics are like? It seems like everybody is ready to jump down any government agency's throat just for doing their job.

[FNS]

While looking at the Anacortes cam this afternoon, I spotted the CHETZEMOKA in the dock there. She had just cut herself loose from the Dakota Creek yard. She took a nice afternoon and evening sailing to the Vessel Maintenance Center, Bainbridge Island.


CHETZEMOKA at Anacortes with the YAKIMA.


Here comes the ELWHA from Canada. Premise is set up for the US Customs traffic pattern.


ELWHA is in. CHETZY is gone.


We advance to Port Townsend and this famous camera we love to use to see this great city and the nearby waterways. CHETZY is in view.


The reflection of the rising bright Moon and the CHETZEMOKA.


CHETZEMOKA meets the eastbound SALISH in an unbelievable scene.


The CHETZEMOKA continues south.


We advance to Edmonds. Using the public telescope next to the Senior Center, I get this image of the CHETZEMOKA and the PUYALLUP.


Photos don't really show how beautiful the CHETZEMOKA looks at night. The KDT ferries look really pretty in their nightly attire.


A closer look.


Finally, the CHETZEMOKA arrives in Eagle Harbor.

[chief]

Nick, there are costs associated with the propeller failure which are not recoverable under the warranty:

The cost to dry dock the ship to put repaired propellers on the ship, the cost to re-drydock the ship to put new propellers on, the loss of the ship for service beyond what was originally scheduled for the maintenance period, possibly the delay in retiring the Rhododendron, and so on.

[rusty]

WSDOT will rue the day they decided not to intall that carbon fiber section of shaft.

[FNS]

Took a trip over to Winslow this late afternoon to see the CHETZY and the KENNY. The ferry I took was the WENATCHEE. Took a few photos.


KENNEWICK and CHETZEMOKA, side-by-side for the second time. The first time was last night when the CHETZY returned from Anacortes. The KENNY cut herself loose from this same dock and practiced landings at Colman Dock today before rejoining her elder sister later in the afternoon. It's really fun to see two of basically the same ferries in one photo. You don't get to see this in Massachusetts as each SSA ferry is different. The KDT prototype ISLAND HOME is in a class of her own there. The freight ferries GAY HEAD and KATAMA are quite a bit alike, though.

www.islandferry.com/ssa/ferries.cfm


The CHETZEMOKA received some notable changes at Dakota Creek. Her rub rails have been joined together with new installations amidships. Her bulwarks at the ends were trimmed 12 inches. New partial hatches with portholes were installed amidships above the chocks, resulting in the vessel having five portholes at each side, up from three at each side. The MES were redone with the covers now being flush with the curtain plate, like what the SALISH and KENNY have. She's looking quite a bit better, now.


Comparing the ends between the two KDT ferries. The KENNY has her bulwarks to be trimmed and rub rails to be installed. She's due for a visit to Dakota Creek shortly. The KENNY's bulwarks will be cut 18 inches rather than 12 for the CHETZY and the SALISH.


One more view of the two KDT ferries together. Other ferries in the VMC were the KITTITAS, HIYU (hidden from view behind the KITTY), and the big SPOKANE.

[Barnacle]

I finally got on board the Chetzemoka the other day. Man alive, what a convoluted hot mess that cabin is! More partitions and odd corners and doors and walls... I've been working on ferries for quite a few years now and I am totally unashamed to admit that I got lost on the Chetzemoka. If it hadn't been for the crew stairwell leading from top to bottom, which dropped me out on the car deck, I'd probably still be trying to find my way off the boat.

[Steve Rosenow]

LOL I felt the same way when I hopped aboard the Salish for its open house. Having sailed aboard the Issys, Supers, and Jumbos, I got used to the general layout of things. That particular vessel class is an odd design, I'll admit.

[zargoman]

For sure, each end and each side are different. And then, the stairwells are sorta odd. I'd have expected to have the tower in the center of the boat. Then, that would eliminate the list...and make it like other boats that have been working just fine on ferries since, well, forever. Why change stuff when it doesn't need it?!

[rusty]

They're quite nice boats to grab a seat and look out at the view. All those lost people in the stair tower saddle lounge just make it easier to get a good seat!

[lavalamp]

Nov 12, 2011 15:27:23 GMT -8 zargoman said:

For sure, each end and each side are different. And then, the stairwells are sorta odd. I'd have expected to have the tower in the center of the boat. Then, that would eliminate the list...and make it like other boats that have been working just fine on ferries since, well, forever. Why change stuff when it doesn't need it?!

One of the constraints the Steamship Authority has is that they use single-lane loading (their transfer spans are very narrow, even compared to the ones in the San Juan Islands) and so they wanted to give semi trucks as straight a shot on and off as possible, hence the offset tower on the Island Home.

Those involved in loading the boats could comment on whether this is really a big deal or not. But this is what happens when you build a ferry designed for someone else.

[Barnacle]

Nov 12, 2011 16:59:16 GMT -8 lavalamp said:

Nov 12, 2011 15:27:23 GMT -8 zargoman said:

For sure, each end and each side are different. And then, the stairwells are sorta odd. I'd have expected to have the tower in the center of the boat. Then, that would eliminate the list...and make it like other boats that have been working just fine on ferries since, well, forever. Why change stuff when it doesn't need it?!

One of the constraints the Steamship Authority has is that they use single-lane loading (their transfer spans are very narrow, even compared to the ones in the San Juan Islands) and so they wanted to give semi trucks as straight a shot on and off as possible, hence the offset tower on the Island Home.

Those involved in loading the boats could comment on whether this is really a big deal or not. But this is what happens when you build a ferry designed for someone else.

Speaking as someone involved in loading the boats in the San Juans (land of the "narrow transfer span"; they're actually about a lane and a half, except for Friday Harbor where it's a bona-fide two lanes wide), we will periodically shift the direction of the lay of the vessel to assist with loading or offloading the boat. Mostly loading--it helps get the semi-trucks closer to the bulkhead on those venerable old (and narrow) canoes we call 'Super Class' ferries.

[lavalamp]

Nov 12, 2011 22:05:55 GMT -8 Barnacle said:

Speaking as someone involved in loading the boats in the San Juans (land of the "narrow transfer span"; they're actually about a lane and a half, except for Friday Harbor where it's a bona-fide two lanes wide), we will periodically shift the direction of the lay of the vessel to assist with loading or offloading the boat. Mostly loading--it helps get the semi-trucks closer to the bulkhead on those venerable old (and narrow) canoes we call 'Super Class' ferries.

Thanks Barnacle. I've been meaning to ask why the ferry would shift alignment while docked, just never got around to it.

The Steamship Authority's transfer spans are literally one lane wide; you can see this on Google Street View. I 'm only rarely in the San Juans, so anything less than two lanes is "narrow" to me!

[Kahloke]

Nov 13, 2011 20:32:50 GMT -8 lavalamp said:

The Steamship Authority's transfer spans are literally one lane wide; you can see this on Google Street View. I 'm only rarely in the San Juans, so anything less than two lanes is "narrow" to me!

And, I can confirm Steamship Authority's transfer span widths with a couple of photos taken by yours truly in 2008:

Transfer Span at Woods Hole Terminal with Island Home


Transfer Span at Vineyard Haven Terminal with Island Home

[Barnacle]

You'd be in a position to know, then--are those transfer spans shorter in length than WSF spans, or is that just a trick of the photography angle? I'm not familiar with the tidal range on the East Coast. (Even so, with our tidal range, another 20 feet in length wouldn't hurt --reduce the angle at the hinge, make it easier to get long rigs off at negative tide, etc.)

[FNS]

Nov 14, 2011 7:52:30 GMT -8 Barnacle said:

You'd be in a position to know, then--are those transfer spans shorter in length than WSF spans, or is that just a trick of the photography angle? I'm not familiar with the tidal range on the East Coast. (Even so, with our tidal range, another 20 feet in length wouldn't hurt --reduce the angle at the hinge, make it easier to get long rigs off at negative tide, etc.)

I've been watching the MVTimes cam regularly ever since the ISLAND HOME entered service and the tides aren't as extreme there as ours here on Puget Sound. The only surge you see is during tropical storms and hurricanes.


Normal water level.


Storm surge.

www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/webcams/vineyard-haven-harbor/

The slips differ than the ones we have here on Puget Sound. There are no aprons that are lowered onto the car deck. There is a thick rim that is contoured to the same radius of the bow of the ferry. The surface of the ramp meets at the same level as the car deck. This is the same as you see down in New York Harbor (the bows of the ferries there in NY have a greater radius than the ones on the Vineyard run and here on the Salish Sea).

Watch the cam all day long to see the tides they get there as well as the comings and goings of the ferries.

[zargoman]

I did not realize that there was also "bulwark modification" in the contract. I thought they did all that when the original short rubrails were installed...Unless they want the safety nets further back so they can be in-place when the apron is down. Right now, the apron sits on top of the holes for the safety net on the auto deck. The crew has to wait until the boat starts to depart to put the nets up.
They have also put a drain in the elevator landings. It's a good idea because as of now, water can slosh around through the car deck and end up getting caught in the elevator shaft when it's rough out. They have to end up closing the sliding door that goes from the car deck tunnel to the elevator/stairwells.
Also, as seen in the photos, the MES door has been redone so it is flush with the surface of the boat, like the Salish and Kennewick.

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[FNS]

There's a nice photo of the CHETZY at Anacortes posted on MarineTraffic.com:

photos.marinetraffic.com/ais/showphoto.aspx?photoid=638686&size=full

Google Earth has updated the photos of many of of our towns here. It now includes the KDT ferries on the Port Townsend to Keystone Harbor at Coupeville run.


CHETZEMOKA in Keystone Harbor with Fort Casey in view.


A closer look at the CHETZEMOKA in Keystone Harbor.


An overview of the crossing. Top of this photo is south, bottom is north.


CHETZEMOKA on a crossing to Port Townsend.


CHETZY's sister SALISH in Port Townsend.


A closer look at the SALISH.

Google Earth has also updated Everett showing the KENNEWICK at the Everett Shipyard for finishing.


And, just for fun, we see the KDT prototype ISLAND HOME in the slip at Vineyard Haven. A fast ferry is seen as well.


Lastly, here's our former ferry KULSHAN (now GOVERNOR) loading freight, commercial, and excess public traffic for Woods Hole. The KULSHAN worked with the old CHETZEMOKA (GOLDEN POPPY) on the Columbia Beach run in the early 1970s and the SILVER STRAND (ELWHA 1, GOLDEN SHORE) earlier on San Diego Bay.

In the above image, you see they have a single transfer span with a rim that is designed to match the radius of the bows of the ferries. These don't rest on the ferries themselves. The road bed matches the same level of the ferry's Main Deck.

When you have GE up, click on the "View" menu and drag down and select "Historical Imagery". You'll get the date bar on the upper left corner. Move the date to the right to get the most recent image.

[lmtengs]

What do you mean 'finally'?
We're still making due with 2004 imagery in quite a few areas in BC, and even worse 1990s imagery in a few less populated areas!

[mrdot]

:)those google earth shots of the most interesting dock at Keystone are striking, and graphicly indicate what tricky navigation is required at this location! :)mrdot.

[zargoman]

That's for sure. On some occasions, the current blasts the boat as it exits the jetty. It can get interesting when the current is pushing towards the beach and it's windy.
The KDTs may turn extremely fast, but they are like giant sails. That's a lot of surface area for the wind to push against, especially when they have such shallow draft.

[FNS]

MV CHETZEMOKA
December 26, 2011

[FNS]

Friday greetings (klahowyas)!

The CHETZEMOKA is on the run again! She cut herself loose from the VMC and is heading north to make an encore appearance in the San Juans. The YAKIMA is not doing well and will visit a sick bay. The CHETZY will do all she can to take care of the islanders.

A few photos of her passing Port Townsend this late afternoon:


The SALISH gets to "see" her 2011 workmate. The northbound CHETZEMOKA is seen passing the stern of the SALISH.


Hi, SALISH! Hi, CHETZY!


CHETZEMOKA passes by Fort Casey.

[zargoman]

It looks like the Chetzemoka and Kennewick are playing around at Keystone today...Wish I were up there