Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, November 6, 2007 Nichols Bros. still in state ferry plan The company closed its doors and laid off workers, but is expected to help build vessels. By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer OLYMPIA -- Though Nichols Bros. Boat Builders is not operating today, it is still counted on to help construct the next generation of state ferries. As of Monday, the Whidbey Island firm had taken no steps to pull out of its partnership with two other firms sharing a $348 million contract for building four new 144-car vehicle ferries. "We've received no official notification that they are not participating," said Michael Marsh, general counsel for Todd Pacific Shipyards of Seattle, the lead contractor. "We talked with Nichols. We've not taken any action to cancel our agreement with them," he said. Nichols Bros. and J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. of Tacoma are the primary subcontractors under the consortium formed in July to carry out the work. "Martinac anticipates building ferries in partnership with Todd and Nichols for many years," said Martinac's attorney, Jed Powell. He added: "We hope that Nichols will weather this storm." On Friday, Nichols Bros. laid off its employees and closed its doors. Company officials have not said for how long. Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said Monday she's hoping the shutdown is short-term. "We're hopeful that whatever happened last week with Nichols is really just a part of their organizing themselves and they will still be a partner," Hammond told reporters. Steve Reinmuth, Hammond's chief of staff, sounded more optimistic. "We have talked to Todd (Shipyards). We have every reason to believe that Nichols will continue to be a vital part of the consortium." The area's state senator said Monday she hopes that proves true. "It's certainly not the message I'm hearing from residents of South Whidbey," said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. Marsh said if Nichols Bros. did drop out of the partnership, it will not scuttle the deal as Todd and Martinac can handle the work. "One way or another we'll move forward to build boats," he said. The exit of Nichols Bros. won't on its own spawn an effort to revamp the contract to spend some of the money on much-needed replacement vessels for the 80-year-old Steel Electric class ferries. "That contract is so delicately thrown together we've got to keep it going," Haugen said. Nichols Bros. has been tightlipped about the layoffs, said Sharon Hart, director of the Island County Economic Development Council. State and local agency officials learned Monday that the layoff may only extend for four weeks, not permanently as the company's press release suggested last week. "We're kind of on hold," Hart said. During the next month, Nichols Bros. workers can contact WorkSource Whidbey with questions about unemployment insurance. Should the layoff become permanent, the agencies would coordinate to offer assistance to the highly skilled former Nichols Bros. employees, Hart said. "There are a lot of resources out there for them," she said. Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfieldheraldnet.com. Unemployment resources Unemployment claims hotline: 800-318-6022 WorkSource Whidbey: 360-675-5966 or www.worksourcenorthwest.com

1. Arlington brothers’ fight led to death, police say 2. Detectives consider slaps to father lethal 3. Woman found dead at Bothell house fire 4. Two teens hurt in collision near Granite Falls 5. Lottery win helps Lake Stevens convenience store owner pay bonuses 6. Everett man shot in groin; two men, one woman are arrested 7. I-5 car chase was result of driver's medical condition 8. CBS cancels ‘As the World Turns’ 9. Jail inmates’ meal complaint omits a crucial fact 10. Locker dips toe in NFL pool 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Zambian woman thanks students for their help • Food banks see rise in use • ‘Making Spirits Bright’ in Edmonds • Wolfpack takes aim at state • Seahawks help students smile • 95 and still volunteering • Sno-King joined by local TV king • Veterans back for Wildcats • Lynnwood seeks to plug $2 million budget gap • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million