Date:  Friday, July 30, 2010

Contact: Marta Coursey, WSDOT Ferries Division, Director of Communications, 206-515-3918

SEATTLE – The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division said today that continuing sea trial tests of the state’s newest ferry, Chetzemoka, have uncovered excessive vibration in the engine driveline.

During sea trials last week and this week, the U.S. Coast Guard approved the safety requirements for the 64-vehicle ferry that will sail between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. Successful tests were made of the boat’s propulsion system, steering system, navigation equipment and public address system, among others.

Discovery of the excessive vibration in the driveline “is exactly why we have sea trials and a massive cooperative effort to get this new ferry into service,” said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond.

The Ferries Division and Todd Pacific Shipyards, builder of the boat, are working together with design engineers, manufacturers’ representatives and contract engineers to isolate the vibration issue to determine its cause.

Excessive vibration could cause operational limitations or shorten the lifespan of key driveline components.

For more information about the Chetzemoka, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Ferries/64CarFerries.

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