Ceremonial ‘initializing’ of second new Port Townsend ferry
Published 1:54 pm Monday, April 19, 2010
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond welded her initials to the keel of a new state ferry today to mark the start of construction at Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle.
This is the second 64-car ferry for the Port Townsend-Keystone run. The ferry service is accepting proposed names for the new vessel.
The first new 64-car ferry, the Chetzemoka, is being outfitted and tested at Everett and is scheduled to go into service in late summer.
Todd was awarded a $114 million contract to build three of the ferries. The third will go on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route in 2012.
The contract has an option for a fourth vessel that would be either a 64-car ferry or 144-car ferry.
