State’s newest ferry Chetzemoka to set sail on Keystone-Port Townsend route in August

The state ferry organization announced that the new 64-car ferry Chetzemoka will make its inaugural sailing between Keystone and Port Townsend on Sunday, Aug. 29. The first new Washington state ferry built in more than a decade, the Chetzemoka’s superstructure was built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland.

It is anticipated that the Chetzemoka’s first full day of service on the Keystone-Port Townsend route will be Monday, Aug. 30.

The Chetzemoka is well under way on its integrated construction schedule. It is currently undergoing final outfitting and dock trials at Everett Shipyard. WSF will conduct dockside training in mid-July, and full crew and vessel training will commence in late July before placing the vessel into service at the end of August.

Todd Pacific Shipyards of Seattle was awarded the $65.5 million contract for construction of the Chetzemoka in December 2008.

Beginning construction in January 2009, Todd worked with its subcontractors Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, the Everett Shipyard and Jesse Engineering to meet the 18-month timeline to build this first vessel in the class of Kwa-di Tabil ferries.

Construction is well under way on the second Kwa-di Tabil-class ferry, and steel is being cut for the third vessel.

“The launching of the Chetzemoka represents our commitment to maintaining a world-class ferry system that thousands of Washingtonians depend on every day,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire.

More Chetzemoka photos on WSDOT's Flickr page.

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