PORT TOWNSEND — The Pierce County ferry Steilacoom II will serve the Port Townsend-Keystone route through Jan. 4 before it is dry-docked for three weeks of maintenance, the state ferries system chief said Wednesday.
“That’s what we wanted,” said Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval. “That’s great. They’re working for us.”
The Coast Guard originally had set a midnight Dec. 31 deadline for scheduled maintenance of the Steilacoom II.
At a recent Port Townsend-Keystone Ferry Partnership meeting, Sandoval and City Manager David Timmons had requested an extension to give holiday visitors car-ferry service over the New Year’s weekend.
News of extension
David Moseley, state Department of Transportation deputy secretary for ferries, e-mailed the news of the extension to ferry partnership members on Wednesday.
“We learned today that the U.S. Coast Guard has formally approved Pierce County’s request for an extension on the drydock requirement allowing the vessel to remain in service through the New Year’s weekend,” Moseley said.
While the Steilacoom II is out of service, Washington State Ferries will provide passenger-only service on the Port Townsend/Keystone route, details of which still are to be worked out, Moseley said.
He said that the agency is “working on a passenger-only schedule that meets as many transit connections as possible.”
Two North Olympic Peninsula passenger vessel operators, Puget Sound Express of Port Townsend and Victoria Express of Port Angeles, are being considered to provide ferry service after Jan. 4.
The state ferries system is leasing the Steilacoom II from Pierce County to fill the void left Nov. 20, when state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond pulled the aging Steel Electrics from service because the hulls were corroded.
The 80-year-old vessels since have been sold for scrap.
Bids to be opened today
Meanwhile, contract bids are scheduled to be opened at 11 a.m. today for construction of two new 64-car ferries to serve the route.
The bid opening was originally set for last Thursday. It was delayed for a week after bidders asked for more time.
The state ferries system advertised for bids in September for construction of two Island Home-model ferries for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
Once bids are opened, a contract is expected to be awarded in about two weeks, Moseley said.
Work on the ferries could commence late this year or early next year.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
