Tagged: Washington State Ferries

State lawmakers may reconsider the law that requires new ferries to be built in Washington.

An audit suggested ferries could be built cheaper at shipyards out of state.

The Daily Herald reports the audit is the subject of a legislative hearing Wednesday in Olympia. The audit cost $1.2 million and took a year to complete.

EVERETT, Wash. — Washington State Ferries chief David Mosely says the agency will have to hire nine to 12 employees to comply with a Coast Guard order to increase staffing for safety.

The Coast Guard sent a letter to the state Friday ordering revised staffing by the end of November.

Mosely told The Daily Herald (http://is.gd/pOfWVY) he's not sure how much the revised staffing will cost, but it's more than the ferry system has in its budget.

Smoke from the engine room forced the Seattle water taxi to return to its dock at West Seattle.

Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore says it had a large response before 8 a.m. Friday because of the reported boat fire.

KINGSTON, Wash. — The Kingston-Seattle foot ferry has attracted far fewer passengers than the Port of Kingston expected when the service started in October 2010, and it's future is in doubt.

The Washington state Ferries Division signed a contract Tuesday with Vigor Industrial for a 144-car ferry to be built at the US Fab shipyard, formerly the Todd shipyard, in Seattle.

Reflections from someone who plays one of the more visible security roles in the post-9/11 Northwest:

"My name is Sgt. Kerry Kintzley. I'm a Sergeant with the Washington State Patrol. I work at the Washington State ferry system screening vehicles prior to their boarding. Sissy ... is a four-year-old Lab Vizsla mix trained to detect explosives.

Washington State Ferries hopes to put its newest 64-car vessel, the Salish, into service on Friday.

Spokeswoman Marta Coursey said a problem discovered Monday with a backup generator threatened to delay plans to put the boat to work on the busy Fourth of July weekend, but they’re working on it.

You may see a new Washington State Ferry on Puget Sound waters this week. The Salish is being put through its sea trials. The vessel, built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, is expected to begin service this summer on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route. The run has gone without full two-boat service since 2007.