BREAKING NEWS :

Bridge collapse adds to Mukilteo/Clinton Ferry traffic, delays mounting

Weather delays move of ferry superstructure from Whidbey to Seattle

The new Washington State Ferry Tokitae sits at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland. The superstructure will be placed on a barge and towed to Vigor shipyard in Seattle. Windy weather delayed the move until early next week. - Jim Larsen / The Record
Jim Larsen / The Record
The new Washington State Ferry Tokitae sits at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland. The superstructure will be placed on a barge and towed to Vigor shipyard in Seattle. Windy weather delayed the move until early next week.

By JIM LARSEN
South Whidbey Record Editor
February 22, 2013 · Updated 2:07 PM 

High winds and heavy seas do not make for good boat  launching conditions, so the new Washington State ferry partially built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders will spend a little longer in Freeland than planned.

The huge superstructure of the Olympic class Tokitae, designed to carry 144 vehicles, dominates the boatyard as workers prepare for the big move. Shoreview Drive was closed Friday in front of the boat yard.

Plans to place the superstructure on a barge Saturday were delayed. The move could be made Monday or perhaps Tuesday, said Bob French, an executive at the boat yard.

“Moving this thing is very difficult,” he said.

A few small pieces of the superstructure will be moved separately, but the bulk of the 2.5 million pound future ferry will be loaded onto a barge and guided to Seattle by two tugboats. There, it will be joined to the the hull and deck constructed at Vigor shipyard, the main contractor.

Moving the barge and tugs into the rather shallow Holmes Harbor is too risky with the windy weather, and the wind could endanger the superstructure and barge during the towing operation, French indicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact South Whidbey Record Editor Jim Larsen at editor@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 1-360-221-5300.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.