Date:
Friday, January 11, 2008
Contact:
Marta Coursey, Communications Director, 206-515-3918
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES UPDATE ON SERVICE SCHEDULES
(SEATTLE) -- The removal of the 80-year-old steel electric ferries from active ferry service in November continues to affect service and routes throughout the Puget Sound as the Washington State ferry system approaches its peak maintenance season. Many ferries need to go into dry dock in the next few months for required annual inspections and repairs.
Service changes will begin on Monday, January 14 when the Chelan goes into dry dock at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle. The vessel has been operating on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route. There is no available vessel to replace it.
The loss of the Chelan means the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route will be on a two boat schedule until mid-February. WSF normally operates three vessels on the route.
WSF will make some adjustments to help customers during this period. We will be moving a larger vessel from the Bremerton route to replace the 87-car Tillikum at Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth. The Tillikum will replace the 124-car Kitsap on the Bremerton route, reducing capacity on that route. The two boat schedule can be found on line at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules
To help customers during the loss of one vessel on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route, the ferry system is adding two sailings to the normal Seattle/Vashon passenger-only service. The extra sailings will be a 5:50 a.m. sailing from Vashon and a 6:25 a.m. sailing from Seattle and a 3:35 p.m. sailing from Seattle and a 4:10 p.m. sailing from Vashon. By Monday there will also a larger vessel, the 87-car Evergreen State, on the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route. Travelers heading to south King County or Pierce County are encouraged to utilize this route.
Southworth, Vashon and Bremerton commuters are also encouraged to form temporary carpools during this time to help with their commute. Three person carpools get preferential loading over single occupancy vehicles. To sign up for a temporary carpool permit, contact Nicole Patrick at 206.515. 3857 for assistance.
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No Ordinary Journey
Created on June 1, 1951, Washington State Ferries (WSF) is the largest ferry system in the United States and the largest ferry system in the world based on vehicles carried. More than 24 million people a year ride the ferries and over 30,000 vehicles a day use this critical link in the state highway system. WSF has a fleet of 26 vessels and operates 20 terminals throughout Puget Sound.
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