PIERCE COUNTY TO MAINTAIN RELIABLE SERVICE TO ANDERSON AND KETRON ISLANDS WHILE HELPING STATE WITH SERVICE CRISIS
For the last several months Washington State Ferries has leased the Steilacoom II ferry from the Pierce County Department of Public Works and Utilities for use at Port Townsend and has determined that the 50 car, 300 passenger vessel is not suited for the conditions of the Port Townsend route. At the time of the lease it was hoped that the configuration of the vessel would prove to be satisfactory thereby saving them design and construction time and cost by building Steilacoom style ferries.
The State has searched around for a solution and believes that another larger style vessel is a better fit. The new style boat is being designed and construction should start this fall. The new ferries are proposed to be available by April of 2010 according to the State.
The State has also looked for a temporary vessel to rent to provide service but has been unsuccessful in locating or securing a vessel other than the vessel being provided by Pierce County. The State has asked to extend the time frame to lease a vessel from Pierce County until 2010.
Mr. Brian Ziegler, Director of Pierce County Public Works and Utilities wants to assure Anderson and Ketron Island residents that top notch service without long interruptions is our first priority. To ensure this:
? The Christine Anderson is reliable and even with a single engine trouble we can run on one engine.
? NC Mechanics is on-call to immediately respond to any mechanical problems if they should arise.
? Lease provisions provide for the fact that the Steilacoom II can be immediately recalled if we experience any long term problems.
? The Hiyu will be a backup beginning in July.
Pierce County was going to bring the Steilacoom II back in September when the Christine Anderson goes in for dry-docking. The Steilacoom II will stay with Pierce County and the Christine Anderson will be refurbished with contributing State monies and then go to Port Townsend for up to 19 months.
As with our contractual arrangement on the Steilacoom II, we will retain the ability to bring the Christine Anderson back if needed while at the same time, we will have the Hiyu available as a backup.
Call Mike Esher at (253)798-7109 with any questions.
