By The Associated Press
PORT TOWNSEND — Washington transportation officials are making adjustments to the Chetzemoka, Salish and Kennewick ferries to stop them from tilting to one side when the boats are empty.
All three of the ferries — which are of the newest class, the 64-vehicle Kwa-di Tabil Class — have served on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route.
Assistant Transportation Secretary David Moseley says the listing doesn’t create a long-term problem for the vessels but the agency is making the simple fix to respond to concerns brought by customers, crew members and lawmakers.
The work involves adding tons of ballast on each vessel.
Moseley said it will cost $300,000 and be completed by the end of June.
The boats are designed to lean when there are no vehicles because not all the weight is evenly distributed.
But some worried it could cause future maintenance problems.
