Olympic-class ferry
 The MV Tokitae's superstructure at Vigor Shipyards after arrival from Nichols Brothers on Whidbey Island |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | US Fab |
| Operators: | 2015 - future Washington State Ferries |
| Built: | 2012 - 2015 (planned) |
| In service: | 2013 - future (planned) |
| Building: | 2-4 (2 funded) |
| Planned: | 2-4 |
| Completed: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | auto/passenger ferry |
| Tonnage: | gross-tonnage: 4320 long tons net-tonnage: not available |
| Displacement: | 4320 long tons salt water at design load waterline |
| Length: | 362 ft (110.3 m) |
| Beam: | 83 ft 4 in (25.4 m) |
| Draft: | 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m) |
| Depth: | 24 ft 6 in (7.5 m) |
| Decks: | 2 vehicle 2 passenger |
| Deck clearance: | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
| Installed power: | Total 6,000 hp (4,500 kW) from 2 x Diesel engines |
| Speed: | 17-knot (31 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 1500 passengers 144 vehicles (max 30 commercial) |
| Notes: | All specifications are subject to change. Vessels in design and construction phase.[1] |
The new Olympic Class ferries are additions to the Washington State Ferries (WSF) fleet that are currently under construction. The ferries are intended to replace aging vessels currently in service. The new ferry design is based on the Issaquah 130 Class and the Super Class ferries. The Issaquah Class vessels are the most reliable and versatile in the fleet.[citation needed] The Olympic Class ferries are designed to serve all routes and terminals in the WSF system.[2] WSF plans to build three ferries in this class over the next 5 years.[3] All vessels would be built in Washington as required by state law.[4]
The first four ferries were originally intended to replace the aging Steel Electric Class vessels. The first completed ferry would have taken the Port Townsend - Keystone route. Some local residents opposed the plan to replace a 60-car Steel Electric ferry with a new 144-car ferry. When the Steel Electrics were effectively retired, the WSF had no auto ferries able to serve the Port Townsend - Keystone route. WSF has replaced the Steel Electrics with new Kwa-di Tabil class ferries.[3]
It was announced on June 20, 2012 in the Seattle Times that State of Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond had selected the name "Olympic Class" from more than 130 suggestions from department employees. Names of the individual vessels will be determined by the state Transportation Commission. The first of these vessels is currently under construction at Vigor Industrial's shipyard in Seattle, with construction scheduled to begin on the second ferry in December 2012.[5]
On November 13, 2012 the Washington State Transportation commission named the first two ferries. The first ferry is going to be called Tokitae and the second one Samish.[6]
The Tokitae's hull was rolled out of the construction building onto a drydock on Saturday, March 2, 2013. It was joined by the superstructure from Nichols Brothers Boatbuilders of Freeland, Whidbey Island on Sunday, March 3, 2013. On Tuesday, March 5, 2013, the superstructure was on top of the hull.[7]
The keel laying of the Samish happened on Friday, March 8, 2013. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee was the one to strike the first weld on the Samish.[8]
References
- ^ 144 Auto Ferry Plans
- ^ WSF New Ferry Program
- ^ a b Press Release about New Ferries
- ^ Built in Washington Ferries, RCW 47.60.814(17)
- ^ Announcement Regarding Ferry Class Title
- ^ Announcement Regarding Ferry Names
- ^ Photo proving that the hull and superstructure were united on March 6th, 2013
- ^ Moseley, David. Weekly Update. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
External links
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