Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Football makes us hungry 10/1/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Deal would sell 4 ferries for scrap Under a tentative deal, the state will get $700,000, less than it hoped to get for the Steel Electric boats. By Jerry Cornfield Herald writer OLYMPIA -- Start spreading the news: The Steel Electrics are sold. Well, almost sold. Washington State Ferries and Environmental Recycling Systems of Seattle have reached a tentative deal that could fetch the state up to $700,000 for the venerable quartet of ferries. "They are not sold yet," ferries communication manager Marta Coursey said. "We have a viable proposal. We're very confident this plan is going to move forward." No deadline has been set for signing a final agreement. As it stands now, the state will get $500,000 plus 10 percent of whatever Environmental Recycling Systems makes from dismantling and selling the boats for scrap. Based on the firm's estimate of its potential take, the state could receive another $200,000, Coursey said. That sum is about half what state ferry officials initially hoped to net. Maritime experts told them before the ferries first went on sale in July that each one might bring in $475,000 if sold as scrap. Coursey said those figures presumed competition for the boats, which never materialized. On July 16, the state placed the Nisqually, Quinault, Illahee and Klickitat for sale online with a minimum bid of $350,000 per vessel. No bidders or buyers surfaced on eBay for the 81-year-old vessels. "We tried twice to sell them online. We have exhausted all options. This is good news for the state," she said. Environmental Recycling Systems intends to tow the boats to Ecomar Ship Recycling in Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. The firm must pay the costs of getting the boats to Mexico. Before they can be taken, the state must complete tasks such as removing oil and fuel. And, Coursey said, the U.S. Coast Guard must inspect and approve the transporting of the boats. The four Steel Electrics have been in dry-dock since November 2007 when Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond ordered them out of service because of concerns about the integrity of the ferry hulls. That decision initially ended two-boat service on the route linking Keystone on Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. Since January, a vessel rented from Pierce County has operated on the route. Bids are now being solicited to build two new ferries for that route. Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Crash victim warned his students against DUI 2. Medical examiner investigator arrives at crash scene, arrested on suspicion of DUI 3. Highway 9 crash is worst alcohol-related accident in Snohomish County in 14 years 4. Seattle patrolman kills suspected police killer; accomplices charged 5. Lynnwood swimmer turns therapy into competitive passion 6. Verizon landline sale advances 7. Man who killed daughter gets 13 years 8. Monroe home destroyed by fire 9. New police program aims to reduce prescription drug overdoses 10. Kamiak teacher in final 2 for CMT contest 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Wildcats fall to familar foe in semis • ‘Nutcracker' times three • Road warrior • Mavericks reloading • Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings • Cities prepare for winter blast repeat • Wolfpack duo takes last shot at state tourney • This Weekend in Your Town • Tips for the stormy season • 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