Washington State Ferries analyzing its options

Washington State Ferries' Jumbo Mark II-class ferry Tacoma was scheduled to be converted from mechanical-diesel to hybrid diesel-battery propulsion, but the plan was scrapped. Washington State Ferries photo.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. I just realized that WSF is awfully close to WTF, which is what many Puget Sound ferry riders have said about Washington State Ferries’ service over the past several years. But, to be fair, service has improved, and state officials are promising a nearly full summer schedule of boats and crews.

The Wenatchee, one of WSF’s largest boats, a Jumbo Mark II-class ferry, is expected to return to service after spending about two years in Vigor’s Seattle shipyard, where it has been converted from mechanical-diesel to hybrid diesel-battery propulsion. The Wenatchee was supposed to be completed in a year and to use about half the money allocated for two Jumbo conversions. However, the extra year also ate up all the budget and most of the available patience, so the plan now is to skip the second conversion and concentrate on getting five newbuild hybrid ferries ASAP. A final request for bids was sent out earlier this year.

Go to this link to read the full article published by WorkBoat https://www.workboat.com/washington-state-ferries-analyzing-its-options