New ferries will look like the MV Hyak on Puget Sound |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: | 2009 - future Washington State Ferries |
| Built: | 2012 - 2015 (planned) |
| In service: | 2013 - future (planned) |
| Building: | 3 |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | auto/passenger ferry |
| Tonnage: | gross-tonnage: 4320 long tons net-tonnage: not available |
| Displacement: | 4320 long tons salt water at design load waterline |
| Length: | 362 ft (110.3 m) |
| Beam: | 83 ft 4 in (25.4 m) |
| Draft: | 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m) |
| Depth: | 24 ft 6 in (7.5 m) |
| Decks: | 2 vehicle 2 passenger |
| Deck clearance: | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
| Installed power: | Total 6,000 hp (4,500 kW) from 2 x Diesel engines |
| Speed: | 17-knot (31 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 1500 passengers 144 vehicles (max 30 commercial) |
| Notes: | All specifications are subject to change. Vessels in design phase.[1] |
The new 144 Auto Class ferries are proposed additions to the Washington State Ferries (WSF) fleet. The ferries are intended to replace aging vessels currently in service. The new ferry design is based on the Issaquah 130 Class and the Super Class ferries. The Issaquah Class vessels are the most reliable and versatile in the fleet. The new ferries are designed to serve all routes and terminals in the WSF system.[2] WSF plans to build three ferries in this class over the next 5 years.[3] All vessels would be built in Washington as required by state law.[4]
The first four ferries were originally intended to replace the aging Steel Electric Class vessels. The first completed ferry would have taken the Port Townsend - Keystone route. Some local residents opposed the plan to replace a 60-car Steel Electric ferry with a new 144-car ferry. When the Steel Electrics were effectively retired, the WSF had no auto ferries able to serve the Port Townsend - Keystone route. WSF will replace the Steel Electrics with new Kwa-di Tabil-class ferries.[5]
There is no official name for this class or individual ferry in the class. The class is tentatively identified by how many cars will fit on board.
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