From Kiro News Radio yesterday:

After the last attempt to build five new electric hybrid boats fell through, the state is about the start the bidding process again.

The first of five new hybrid ferries was supposed to roll off the line in 2022, but the contract with long-time ferry builder Vigor, previously Todd Shipyard, fell through.

Why? The bid to build the boats was double what the state expected. The contract was nixed, and here we are today running a ferry system held together by chewing gum and good intentions.  To say it’s a crisis is an understatement.

That’s four or more years before the first new boat is on the water. The question now is whether the ferry system can hold together that long.

There are 21 boats in the fleet. Only nine are considered in good condition. It takes 19 boats to run the full schedule.  We have been hanging around 13-to-15 boats in service at times this year.

Another boat had to be taken out of service yesterday for inspection after a hard landing in Southworth.

https://mynorthwest.com/3942167/new-ferry-boats-in-washington-at-least-four-years-away/#//

CalMac? 95.4% of 400 plus sailing to 50 ports, all seasons, on time, at the lowest cost to passengers in the developed world.