100 Vehicle Class ferry

The new 100 Vehicle Class ferries will replace the (effectively) retired Steel Electric ferries. The new vessels are intended to serve lower traffic routes. The ferries will carry up to 100 vehicles. The State of Washington will spend approximately $100 million to construct three ferries in this class. The first ferry is scheduled to enter service in April 2009 on the Port Townsend - Keystone route. [ [http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=790&newsType=1 New Ferries press release] ]

In November 2007, Washington State Ferries removed the 80 year old Steel Electric ferries from service for safety reasons. Routine inspections revealed serious hull damage on two of the four old vessels. [See Steel Electric ferries] When the Steel Electrics were removed from service, there were no ferries able to carry vehicles on Port Townsend - Keystone route. [ [http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=790&newsType=1 New Ferries press release] ]

As of February 14, 2008, there is no official name for this class of ferries or any individual vessel in this class. This class is tentatively identified by its maximum vehicle capacity as specified in state law.

Ferries in this class include:

* "Unnamed vessel A"
* "Unnamed vessel B"
* "Unnamed vessel C"

tatus

The State Legislature authorized and funded vessel construction in February 2008. [ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6794-S.pdf SB 6794] ] These vessels are currently being designed and will soon enter construction. As required by law, all new Washington State Ferries vessels are built in Washington. [ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6794-S.pdf SB 6794] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/your_wsf/our_fleet/index.cfm?fuseaction=classes Washington State Ferries class information]
* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/your_wsf/index.cfm?fuseaction=our_history Washington State Ferries class history]
* [http://www.evergreenfleet.com/index.html Evergreen Fleet]