Ask those who know something

This old renegade of a bygone era ferry captain has something to say about the Steel Electrics, having spent more than 32 years with the Washington State Ferries, of which 16 years was on the Steel Electrics.

If we must pick on the Klickitat, let’s back off and look at the Nisqually. Both of these boats are where they should be, serving the Upper Olympic Peninsula again.

The old timers on the Peninsula remember when these two boats served the Edmonds to Port Ludlow route.

The Nisqually is in such bad condition because she was laid up in the Bainbridge Island maintenance yard for two years. (It was called the bone yard in my generation.) Why? Because the CEO at that time and his staff wanted to strip the boat of useable engine parts, etc., to keep the other three Steel Electrics operating. Then sell her for salvage. They also wanted to sell the tiny 40-car boat, the HIYU, which they didn’t and it could easily have been used on the Keystone-Port Townsend route while the Klickitat was pulled two days for repairs. At least some kind of service would be better than none.

Perhaps the Coast Guard has had enough of WSF’s bad decisions.

Many of us old timers have been there, done that over the years, and the transportation committee leader Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and staff in Olympia should tap into that vast knowledge that we have gained through the years and not brush us off when we make suggestions at some of the public meetings they’ve held.

CAPT. JUNIOUS HAGGLUND (ret.)

Everett