Our goal: strengthen and sustain Washington’s ferry system

Pacific Public Affairs - Vigor WFC Aging Vessel flyer • 8 1/2” x 11” • full-color • 1/31/2017 • front

The Washington Ferry Coalition (WFC) brings together people

and businesses that recognize how important an efficient and

reliable ferry system is to meet transportation needs in Western

Washington and serve as an economic asset for the entire state.

WFC members employ thousands of workers in the state of

Washington.

5th 144-Car Ferry Needed for Aging Fleet

Vigor in Seattle is currently building the Suquamish, the fourth

successive new ferry for Washington since 2011.

Two Washington state ferries are approaching 60 years old, and four

other ferries are 50 years old. Most other fleets in North America

replace vessels well before age 50. Keeping Washington’s current

ferry-build program going with a fifth Olympic Class 144-car ferry

will provide another vessel that the system needs, will save money

and will generate hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in

economic activity.

The state transportation system and ferry communities need

reliable ferries, the economy and workers need the jobs that ferry

construction provides and the maritime industry and state need to

retain a skilled blue-collar workforce.

Extending the current ferry-build contract for a fifth ferry will

avoid a costly lapse in construction and provide a needed ferry

years sooner.

WFC members continue to advocate for timely replacement

of older ferries to ensure the ferries remain a vital link for

transportation, commerce and the economy as Washington’s

marine highway.

WashingtonTheFerry Coalition

www.FerryCoalition.com

Page 2 of 2

Washington Ferry Coalition Members

Beckwith & Kuffel, Inc. Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. Bob Donegan, Ivar’s and Seattle Historic Waterfront Association Bronswerk Marine Inc. Cascade Machinery & Electric, Inc. Dehn Engineering Sales Company D.P. Nicoli EVRAZ Greenberry Industrial Greer Steel, Inc. Harris Electric Hurley Engineering Industrial Resources, Inc. International Paint, LLC Jesse Engineering Co. JH Kelly John Powers, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance Machinists Inc. Mark Gleason, Washington Maritime Federation Maxum Petroleum MD Marine Electric Nichols Brothers Boat Builders PAC Stainless, LTD Patricia Graf-Hoke, Visit Kitsap Peninsula Performance Contracting Inc. Ron Nelson, Island County Economic Development Council Seaport Steel Sea Technology Construction Co. Shinn Mechanical, Inc. Sound Propeller Services, Inc. US Joiner LLC Vigor W&O Supply

WashingtonTheFerry Coalition

Page 2 of 2

*Large B.C. ferries are 40 years; small B.C. ferries are 48 years

Note: One additional ferry to start service in 2017 (Chimacum) and another under construction (Suquamish).

Contact: Brad Jurkovich • (360) 481-3454 • brad@jurkovich.com www.FerryCoalition.com

WSF has nearly $270 million in backlogged preservation costs that make it difficult for ferries to meet their projected service life and keep up with system needs. Additionally, the lack of an adequate relief vessel means when breakdowns or maintenance breaks occur, some ferry communities are given reduced service until their boat is back on the water.

WSF Vessel Ages in 2017 Compared to Target Maximum

Aging Vessels

VE

SS

EL

S A

GE

IN

YE

AR

S

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Puya

llup

(19 y

ears)

Wen

atch

ee (1

9 yea

rs)

Taco

ma (

20 ye

ars)

Chela

n (3

6 yea

rs)

Sealt

h (3

5 yea

rs)Ca

thlam

et (3

6 yea

rs)

Kitsap

(37 y

ears)

Kittita

s (37

year

s)W

alla W

alla (

45 ye

ars)

Kenne

wick (6

year

s)

Tokit

ae (3

year

s)

Sam

ish (2

year

s)

Chet

zem

oka (

7 yea

rs)

Klahow

ya (5

9 yea

rs)

Tillik

um (5

8 yea

rs)

Yakim

a (50

year

s)

Kaleet

an (5

0 yea

rs)

Elwha

(50 y

ears)

Spok

ane (

45 ye

ars)

Issaq

uah

(38 y

ears)

Hyak (

50 ye

ars)

Salis

h (6

year

s)

Washington State Ferries

BC Ferries*

U.S Navy

U.S Coast Guard

Cargo Ships