The Chetzemoka, Salish and Kennewick ferries capable of serving the Port Townsend-to-Coupeville ferry route, were recently named Significant Boats of 2011 by U.S. maritime industry publication WorkBoat Magazine. “This is a tremendous distinction and one we are excited to share with our partners Vigor Industrial and Elliott Bay Design Group,” said David Moseley, assistant secretary for Washington State Ferries in a news release. “We’re pleased this new class of ferries is getting this well-deserved national attention.”
The ferries belong to the new Kwa-di Tabil class of vessels.
WorkBoat Magazine notified Washington State Ferries in early November that the three 64-car vessels were among the 50 boats nominated for the prestigious annual award. Each year, WorkBoat editors review the boats they’ve featured in the magazine and choose the 10 vessels deserving of special recognition.
Winners were announced Nov. 30 at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, and will be featured in the January 2012 issue of WorkBoat Magazine.
WorkBoat magazine editors said the industry considers the Chetzemoka, Salish and Kennewick significant because they are the first new boats for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division in more than a decade and represent a much-needed vessel upgrade for the Port Townsend/Coupeville route.
