Foss to build new ferry for Washington

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Seattle, WA, recently awarded a $9.6 million contract to Foss Maritime Co., Seattle, to build an all-aluminum, double-end, 20-car ferry to operate on Lake Roosevelt in Eastern Washington.

The new Keller Ferry vessel will have an overall length of 116 ft, beam of 45 ft 8 inches and molded draft of 7 ft. It will admeasure less than 100 gross tons and be built to conform with and certified to U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter T regulations. The ferry’s design and construction will be in accordance with ABS requirements, although it will not be ABS classed and the shipyard is not required to arrange onboard ABS inspection. ABS certificates will be required for certain pieces of equipment and the propulsion system vendor will be required to obtain ABS certification of the propulsion control system.

Building the ferry will also pose some unique challenges. The remote location of the Keller Ferry operation will require that the ferry be built in sections at Foss’ Rainier, OR, facility and then transported about 350 miles across state and assembled on site at the ferry landing.

The new ferry, shown in the computer rendering at right, is being built to replace the 63-year-old Martha S. The Martha S. makes about 30 to 35 daily trips on a 1.25 mile route crossing the Columbia River between Lincoln and Ferry counties. The operation serves as a critical transportation link for nearby residents, school children, freight haulers and emergency services.

WSDOT said that the bid by Foss of $9,557,178 was nearly $250,000 less than the state’s estimate. Foss will deliver the new ferry in May 2013.

November 18, 2011