Vigor Delivers Washington’s First 144-car Ferry

Vigor Fab delivered the Tokitae, the state’s newest ferry, to Washington State Ferry officials this week.

The Olympic class Tokitae is the first of three 144-car ferries currently planned. It will enter service this summer on the Clinton-Mukilteo route. The second vessel, the Samish, is currently under construction at Vigor with delivery planned for early next year. State lawmakers have provided funding for a third ferry and construction is expected to start toward the end of this year.

Once Washington State Ferries accepts the Tokitae from builder/contractor Vigor Industrial, crews will begin operational drills, including training and familiarization with the vessel.

Christened Tokitae, the new ferry’s name comes from a Coast Salish dialect meaning, “nice day, pretty colors.” It is the first of three funded Olympic class vessels designed to replace the aging 1950s-era Evergreen State Class ferries.

“With three new 64-car ferries operating, and the first of three new 144-car ferries joining the fleet, the average age of our vessels will drop from 38 years to about 31,” said Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson. “This new vessel brings us closer to increased service reliability, while meeting the needs of taxpayers and our customers.”

Along with added vehicle and passenger capacity, the $144 million Tokitae offers flexible seating configurations, improved heating and ventilation, and greater accessibility for passengers with disabilities.

“Vigor Fab built a top-notch, first-in-class vessel on budget and on time to serve WSF’s peak summer season,” said Senior Vice President Joe Corvelli, head of Vigor Fab, Vigor Industrial’s ship building unit. “The Tokitae is the result of all the skill, hard work and dedication our shipbuilding teams bring to the job every day. These workers have built a vessel ready to serve the people of Washington for the next 60 years.”

“We have a longstanding, productive partnership in new vessel construction with Vigor,” said Capt. George A. Capacci, interim assistant secretary in charge of WSF. “I am elated that we have accepted the Tokitae. Vigor and their subcontractors have delivered a good product that will serve our customers for decades to come.”

“More than just a great boat, this ferry represents jobs for more than 500 skilled maritime workers at Vigor and subcontractors around Puget Sound,” Corvelli said. “The Tokitae is an excellent example of the high-quality complex vessels we can build here in the Pacific Northwest.”

The public is invited to take a tour of the vessel before it goes into service at WSF’s community celebration and open house Sunday, June 8, at the Clinton ferry terminal.

Dimensions
Length: 362 feet, 3 inches (110.3 meters)
Beam: 83 feet, 2 inches (25.4 meters)
Depth: 24 feet, six inches (7.5 meters)

Displacement
4,320 long tons

Engines
Two Electro-motive Diesel Engines (6,000 total horsepower)

Speed
17 knots (31 kilometers/hour)

Capacity
Passengers: 1,500
Cars: 144