Washington State Ferries operating in an island archipelago around Seattle, Washington State USA, has not received a new ferry since 2015, 11 years ago.

Today, according to Kiro Seattle:

After years of ferry delays and an aging fleet, Washington is taking a major step toward restoring service. Governor Bob Ferguson announced construction is underway on the state’s first new ferry in 11 years, stating a third hybrid-electric vessel has now been added to the order.

And the new ferries can’t come soon enough for Washington. The state lost four ferries between 2015 and 2025, shrinking its fleet from 25 ferries to 21. The ferries on hand are old, with 11 ferries (more than half the fleet) being more than 40 years old, and one that’s 67 years old.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/washington-breaks-ground-on-first-new-ferry-in-11-years-three-hybrid-electric-vessels-ordered/ar-AA29tcAd?ocid=BingNewsVerp

No completion dates have been announced but two years to trials in 2028 would be optimistic.

The oldest CalMac large active ferry is 40 years old and only 2, relief, vessels out of 37 are over 40 years old. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne_fleet

The above image is of the typical open-mouthed WSF ferry, prone to this:

No CalMac ferry has ever had a flooded car deck.

In the period from WSF’s last new boat in 2015 to the best date for their next in 2028, CalMac will have received at least 10 new vessels:

Already received / in service by mid-2026:

• MV Loch Seaforth (entered service early 2015).
• MV Catriona (hybrid; entered service 2016).
• MV Carvoria (small landing craft for Kerrera; 2017).
• MV Loch Frisa (second-hand acquisition, built 2015; joined/entered service 2022).
• MV Glen Sannox (dual-fuel; handed over late 2024, entered service January 2025).
• MV Isle of Islay (first of the Turkish-built vessels; entered service March 2026). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne_fleet

Expected by the end of 2028 (schedules as of 2026, subject to further delays):

• MV Loch Indaal (Turkish-built; targeted around mid/late 2026).
• MV Glen Rosa (sister to Glen Sannox; targeted late 2026).
• MV Lochmor and MV Claymore (remaining Turkish-built pair; targeted late 2026 to early 2027).
• First of the seven new small fully electric “loch-class” vessels from Remontowa (Poland; contract awarded 2025, first expected 2027, with the full set running into early 2029). A few of these are projected to arrive in 2027–2028. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_MacBrayne

How relatively wealthy are Washington State and Scotland?

Washington’s nominal GDP of $895bn is roughly 2.9–3.1 times larger than Scotland’s $312bn (with oil/gas).

How do the two cities compare for size?

Seattle is 823 400 and Glasgow is only 654 330.

Are Scotland’s islanders doing well out of this or have I misunderstood something?