SEATTLE — No major problems have been found on seven of the one dozen Washington State Ferries the Coast Guard ordered inspected before Christmas, officials said Wednesday.
The Coast Guard is satisfied so far by what inspectors are finding, although some of the ferries will require work later, said Lt. Cmdr. Todd Howard, chief of vessel inspections for the Coast Guard in Seattle.
“There were no surprises — just some localized pitting,” he said. “But nothing that would require the ferries to be pulled off the run or any kind of emergency dry dock work.”
The inspections are scheduled to continue through Saturday and then break for the Christmas holiday. Two other ferries are to be examined before Dec. 27, said Marta Coursey, communications director for the ferry system.
So far, Coursey said, the inspections have shown the state needs to replace hull steel in some areas on the ferries Kitsap (built in 1980), Chelan (1981), Tillikum (1959) and Spokane (1972).
Meanwhile, the Walla Walla (1973) and Kitttitas (1980) likely will be scheduled later for tests to gauge the thickness of hull steel, and the Klahowya (1958) needs fresh paint in some areas.
The Cathlamet, (1981) was scheduled for inspection Wednesday, Coursey said. The Sealth (1982) and Issaquah (1979) were scheduled for today and the Evergreen State (1954) and Rhododendron (1947) were set for Friday or Saturday, Coursey said.
Two additional ferries, the Yakima (1967) and Kaleetan (1967), are scheduled to be inspected Wednesday and Dec. 27.
The Coast Guard ordered the ferries inspected after the state’s 80-year-old Steel Electric-class ferries were pulled from service Nov. 20 and retired last week because of severe corrosion in their hulls.
Ferry officials on Nov. 30 said pitting similar to that found on the Steel Electrics has turned up inside the hull of the Hyak, a ferry built in 1967.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has asked the Legislature to set aside $100 million to replace the Steel Electrics with three new car ferries. Last week she also signed contracts with area shipyards to build three new 144-car ferries.
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