Replacements need careful study

As a Washington State Ferries employee, I am very pleased that the leaders in the state finally made a decision to get the new ferries going on the Keystone-Port Townsend route.

My main concern, however, is that in our haste to get something going, we are jumping at the first option out there? Are these boats the best choices? Are they seaworthy enough for this bad-weather crossing? What about vessel power — this is a high vessel traffic area with a narrow opening in Keystone. What about capacity, 54 cars? That’s less capacity than the older boats. Are we planning on two boats year round there?

There aren’t even crew quarters on these boats. Are we going to put our crews up in hotels for years to come? I’d hate to see a decision made in haste come back to haunt us in a few years, leaving us with underperforming boats, just because we wanted to be seen doing something. Wouldn’t it be better to take a couple of extra months to get things right?

Maybe in the years to come the management of WSF will become more proactive instead of reactive.

Brad Brickley