Kwa-di Tabil-class ferry
 MV Chetzemoka, the first of the class, sailing into Keystone Harbor (2011)
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle , Washington |
| Operators | Washington State Ferries |
| Preceded by | Steel Electric class |
| Built | 2009–2012 |
| In service | 2010–present |
| Planned | 3 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Active | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Auto/passenger ferry |
| Tonnage | 4,623 |
| Displacement | 1,515 long tons of displacement |
| Length | 273 ft 8 in (83.41 m) |
| Beam | 64 ft (20 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Decks | 7 |
| Deck clearance | 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m) max |
| Installed power | 6,000 hp (4,500 kW) total from two diesel engines |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) max |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 10[1] |
Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries,
In the design stage, the class was called the 100 Vehicle-class[4] and later 64 Vehicle-class ferries.[5][6]
Ferries
Ferries in this class include:
History
In November 2007,
Due to the vessel shortage created by the sudden retirement of the Steel Electric-class ferries, Washington State Ferries (WSF) decided to base the design of the Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries on an existing ferry,
The first ferry,
Issues
The Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries have had a number of problems since they were delivered. Most seriously, the non-symmetrical design of the ships caused them to
Despite promises that the Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries were designed to serve all routes and terminals in the WSF system, they have proven to be ill-suited for many routes.[11] The narrow car decks on the ferries make it difficult to turn vehicles around[11] (necessary on the inter-island route in the San Juan Islands and on the Fauntleroy / Vashon / Southworth route). During a December 2012 and January 2013 fleet emergency, Salish was pressed into service on the well-traveled Bremerton-Seattle run. It was at that time that it was discovered that the diesel fuel-hungry engines on the Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries struggled to make the 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph) speed for which they had been designed, and Salish averaged at best 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph).[13]
References
- ^ "Getting on and off Chetzemoka: Learning how to use state's newest ferry". Port Townsend Leader. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ Chew, Jeff. "Kwa-di Tabil: Students to be feted today for naming class of new state ferry". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "New ferry Kennewick joining Washington fleet". The Seattle Times. January 6, 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ "Vessel Planning Study" (PDF). Wsdot.wa.gov. 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "Island Home Design" (PDF). Leg.wa.gov. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ Wolff, Douglas (November 16, 2007). "Tradition and Innovation: The Design of the Ferry Island Home" (PDF). Elliott Bay Design Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ "News & Media | Governor Jay Inslee". Governor.wa.gov. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008.
- ^ a b "SB 6794" (PDF). Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ Gilmore, Susan (14 November 2010). "Washington state's newest ferry, Chetzemoka, christened Sunday". The Seattle Times.
- ^ "New state ferry Salish enters service". Komonews.com. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ a b c "The Kwa-di Tabil Class". Evergreenfleet.com. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
- ^ Elliott, Walt (2013-06-06). "A look at the issues regarding newest ferries". Kitsap Daily News. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ "The Salish". Evergreenfleet.com. Retrieved 2015-04-16.