So, this made the news all over the world. These are stills from the video WSF tweeted out of the Issaquah on its way up to Anacortes during a boat move. Not exactly sure why WSF decided to go ahead with the move (it had been on the news for days about the potential high winds, there was a gale warning up from NOAA that was in place until 10 PM the evening of the 9th). There was a nasty combination in store for them which might have led to the incident–high swells, a king tide, and the wind was coming almost directly out of the west. All of this lead to some really awful conditions right off of Whidbey Island.

I saw on a news report on a Canadian news station (which, despite searching for, I cannot find) that one of the buoys recorded a 8-9 meter wave out in the Strait–that’s roughly 26-30 feet in height! Not exactly a great situation for a vessel with no bow.

The photos of the Issaquah put me in mind of this photo of the San Diego on her way from her builders down to San Diego. (Note that the info on the photo is outdated–the San Diego was scrapped back in 2012.)

The Issaquah was supposed to take over for the Chelan, but as of today 17 January, she hasn’t. While minimal damage occurred in the storm, the cold had other plans in store in the way of freezing pipes. The Chelan, too, had some frozen pipes–the Issaquah Class seems to have this issue more than the others due to where the pipes are on the ferries.

Meanwhile, it’s not going to get back to normal soon…

Not surprisingly, WSF has scrapped the timeline for getting back to normal operations.

While staffing continues to be an issue, the bigger problem is lack of vessels. Not surprisingly either, WSF is saying 2028 now for the first new ferry to be put into service…nearly a decade late from the original plan.

Speaking of building ferries…

B.C. Ferries has just announced the contract for the next four ferries has been awarded.

B.C. Ferries, unlike Washington State Ferries, can (and does) bid their new build ferries out to world-wide shipyards. Due to the constraints of the Jones Act, WSF can only have ferries built by shipyards in the U.S. (Not saying that is good or bad, but I’m stating it for the record since I’ve gotten a lot of questions about “Why can’t we just build new boats overseas like B.C. Ferries does?” Short answer: it’s against the law.

The ferries that live in infamy…

It seems nobody wants these things.

I won’t go into the whole sordid story of the Pacificats–it is all out there. What seems to be the underlying theme to these boats is that nobody but nobody wants them. After leaving B.C. waters, they were supposed to be put into use, but instead they’ve just sat idle and continued to deteriorate.

Amazingly, they seem to be in fairly good shape, but even with that, they haven’t been operated in years. It seems unlikely that anyone is going to bite this time around and the boats will probably be scrapped.

Meanwhile in Alaska…

Officials are hoping that a seven-boat service can be in effect for 2024.

Alaska, just like everyone else, is suffering from a lack of qualified crew, and have been attempting to recruit and train people to ensure service. It’s daunting task, as B.C. Ferries, WSF, Pierce County and seemingly every other agency is attempting to do the same thing as well.

Hybrids! Hybrids! Hybrids everywhere!

B.C. ferries has a few already, WSF has one being converted and (HOPEFULLY SOON) will start building, and now the Steamship Authority (aka Martha’s Vineyard ferries) is headed that direction as well. The company just approved designs for a new hybrid vessel. Will this be the end for the old Kulshan? TIme will tell.

Update on the Evergreen State

After spending months…or is it even years at this point? at the dock in Fairhaven, the Evergreen State, was moved to downtown Bellingham near the old Georgia Pacific pulp mill site. There appears to be no work happening on the vessel, and she is moored in such a way that workers (or anyone else) have no way to get to the ferry.

As for those other pensioners…

Hyak, Klahowya, and Old Ugly (aka the Elwha), stay tuned. I’ll have news on some movement soon. Or, more likely, someone will beat me to it.

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