Kwa-di Tabil class ferry
MV Chetzemoka, the first of the class, sailing into Keystone Harbor (2011)
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Todd Pacific Shipyards |
| Operators: | 2010–present: Washington State Ferries |
| Preceded by: | Steel Electric Class ferry |
| Built: | 2009–2012 |
| In service: | 2010–present |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Active: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | auto/passenger ferry |
| Tonnage: | 4623 |
| Displacement: | 1515 long tons |
| Length: | 273' 8" |
| Beam: | 64' |
| Draft: | 11' |
| Decks: |
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| Deck clearance: | 15' 10" – 16' 1" |
| Installed power: | Twin 3,000 hp diesel engines |
| Speed: |
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| Capacity: |
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The Kwa-di Tabil (kwah DEE tah-bale)class ferries, previously known as the 100 Vehicle Class and later 64 Vehicle Class, were built by Washington State Ferries to replace the retired Steel Electric ferries. The vessels to serve lower traffic routes and carry up to 64 vehicles. The State of Washington spent approximately $213 million to construct the three ferries in this class.
Ferries in this class include:
In November 2007, Washington State Ferries made the decision to remove the 80-year-old Steel Electric ferries from service over safety concerns. Routine inspections revealed serious hull corrosion damage on two of the four old vessels. When the Steel Electrics were removed from service, there were no ferries able to carry vehicles on Port Townsend / Coupeville route as no other vessel could be used in Coupeville's small, shallow Keystone Harbor.
Due to the vessel shortage created by the sudden retirement of the Steel Electric Class ferries, Washington State Ferries decided to base the design of the Kwa-di Tabil class ferries on an existing ferry, the MV Island Home which runs between Martha's Vineyard, MA and Woods Hole, MA. The State Legislature authorized and funded vessel construction in February 2008 and the first vessel was built on tight 18 month schedule by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle (by state law all new Washington State Ferries vessels are built in Washington).
The first ferry, MV Chetzemoka, was christened by Gov. Christine Gregoire and began service November 14, 2010 on the Port Townsend / Coupeville route. Two boat service returned to the route on July 1, 2011 with the delivery of the second ferry, the MV Salish. The MV Kennewick entered service on February 14, 2012 and was assigned to the Port Townsend / Coupeville route, allowing the Chetzemoka to be reassigned to the Point Defiance–Tahlequah route and the 65-year-old ferry MV Rhododendron to be retired.
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Wikipedia