State switches strategy, will order bigger ferries

The state has abandoned plans to build a 50-car ferry for the Port Townsend-Keystone route and instead will build two larger Island Home ferries.

Pierce County has agreed to extend a lease on one of its ferries until the Island Home boats can be built.

The Island Home model, designed by Seattle's Elliott Bay Design, is used on the East Coast between Woods Hole, Mass., and Martha's Vineyard and is operated by Nantucket Steamship. The state can't estimate how much the new ferries will cost, but the Island Home boats were built in Mississippi four years ago for $35 million each.

Initially, the state planned to build a smaller ferry modeled after the Pierce County Steilacoom II boat that has been leased to the state for the Port Townsend route. But bids for the boat came in $9 million over the estimate last month, and the state rejected the bids. It had planned to rebid the boat last week, but that was delayed while talks continued with Pierce County about extending the lease on one of its vessels.

"This is good news. We get to go directly to the boat that everyone believes will serve this route better," said Washington State Ferries Director David Moseley. "We believe we can build two Island Homes with the allocation from the Legislature."

The Legislature this year appropriated $84.5 million to build three new boats to replace the 80-year-old Steel Electric Class vessels that were pulled out of service in November because of damaged hulls.

Monday's announcement came from Gov. Christine Gregoire, who said it was clear the people of Port Townsend and Coupeville wanted the larger boat for the turbulent route.

"We're thrilled," said Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval. "We think [Transportation Secretary] Paula Hammond and David Moseley have listened to us. I think the Island Home design is a better boat for our route and the system."

The Steilacoom II will return to Pierce County in September, and its older sister ship, the 50-car Christine Anderson, will serve the Port Townsend route until the first Island Home boat is completed in spring 2010 and the second one in the fall of 2010.

The state plans to put the project out to bid by July, but Moseley said he is hoping it could go out to bid as early as June. By law, the boats must be built by a Washington shipyard.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com