Staff report
It’s brand new. It can carry as many as 144 automobiles. And it’s poised to take not only its place as the newest boat among the state ferry system fleet, but to set sail as one of the primary ferries in the San Juans as well.
Washington State Ferries took possession of the $126 million Samish from boat builder and contractor Portland, Ore.-based Vigor Industrial in early April.
Following two months of sea trials and crew training, the Olympic Class ferry will begin service on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route Sunday, June 14, on the eve of the summer sailing season.
“I’m delighted to take delivery of the Samish,” Ferries Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith said in a prepared statement. “More than 23 million passengers rely on our ferry system every year. Adding another Olympic Class vessel represents the state’s continued commitment to replace older vessels and plan for the future.”
Along with more space for taller vehicles, the Samish offers an ADA-compliant, car-deck restroom, flexible seating configurations, improved heating and ventilation, and wider stairwells and passageways, according to WSF.
“It’s been an honor for Vigor to partner with Washington State Ferries on this vessel, and the nine other ferries we’ve built to serve the people of Washington,” said Vigor’s Bryan Nichols, director of sales. “The Samish represents the very best in state-of-the-art ferry design and has helped strengthen the maritime community by supporting over 500 jobs throughout the Puget Sound.”
The new ferry’s name comes from a tribal word meaning, “giving people.” It is the second of three state-funded, Olympic Class vessels to replace the aging, midcentury-era Evergreen State Class vessels. More info on the Samish and the Chimacum, the third Olympic Class ferry, under construction at Vigor Industrial in Seattle, is at www.wsdot.wa.gov.
