38 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 • FOGHORN MEMBERNEWS Washington State Christens Newest Ferry Suquamish A sparkling white and green new ferry was the center of attention at PVA Associate member Vigor’s Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle as the PVA Vessel member Washington State Department of Transportation christened Suquamish, the fleet’s fourth Olympic Class vessel. In a traditional maritime ceremony, Amy Scarton the WSDOT assistant secretary, Ferries Division broke a bottle of champagne to officially welcome the newest ferry to the fleet. Dignitaries included Governor Jay Inslee, Vigor CEO Frank Foti, and the Suquamish Tribe chairman. Members of the Suquamish Tribe performed a traditional song and blessing to add to the festivities. The christening marks the Suquamish’s final stage of construction and its preparation for sea trials. “Our marine highways are an irre- placeable part of our state’s transporta- tion system, with ferries carrying over 24 million people each year across our state’s waters,” Governor Inslee said. “This construction milestone is an incredible accomplishment for our design and construction teams at ferries,” Scarton said. “The State’s wise decision to build these four Olympic Class ferries in suc- cession resulted in cost reductions and quality improvements in each succes- sive build,” said Foti. The 144-car Suquamish will begin its sea trials in mid-2018 and will start carrying passengers beginning in the fall. The new ferry will operate on the Mukilteo/Clinton route in the summer and serve as a maintenance relief vessel in the winter, filling in when other vessels are out of service. T h e W a s h i n g t o n S t a t e Transportation Commission selected the vessel name in 2016 to honor the Suquamish people, a tribe that has inhabited the central Puget Sound for approximately 10,000 years. The Suquamish name translates into the “people of the clear salt water” in Southern Salish Lushootseed language. Suquamish is the fourth funded Olympic Class ferries to replace the aging, midcentury-era Evergreen State Class vessels. n JULY 2017 • FOGHORN 37 MEMBERNEWS FLAGSHIP MARINE MARINE 5/3/07 Commercial Marine A/C by Flagship Marine www.flagshipmarine.com Flagship Marine, Inc. sales@flagshipmarine.com Phone: 772-283-1609 Fax: 772-283-4611 Watts: 800-316-6426 Stuart, Florida - USA 30 TON Chiller Variety of Air Handlers including this 12 inch tall 36000 BTU unit Copyright © 2007 Donnelly Advertising & Publishing No expensive proprietary printed circuit boards !!! Lowest Long Term Maintenance Cost in the Industry! 3 TON Self Contained "Since 1995" Lowest Long Term Maintenance Cost in the Industry ! No Expensive proprietary printed circuit boards !! 3 Ton Self Contained 30 Ton Chiller "Since 1995" Variety of Air Handler Units in both chilled water and split systems including this 12" tall 36000 BTU Unit Flagship Marine, Inc www.flagshipmarine.com sales@flagshipmarine.com Phone 772-283-1609 FAX-772-283-4611 800-316-6426 Stuart - FL- USA Commercial Marine HVAC by Flagship Marine marinegroupbw.com | leah@marinegroupbw.com | [619] 621-2220 Marine Group Boat Works is the finest California boatbuilder and repairer of steel and aluminum high-speed ferries, catamarans and passenger vessels up to 220 feet-long. Operating two shifts, six days per week for fast turnarounds and minimized vessel time out-of-service. WHENALLYOUHAVEISAWEEK... YOU’REIN YOU’REOUT The Suquamish tribe performed a traditional song at the ceremony. Gov.Jay Inslee, Chairman of the Suqua- mish Tribe Leonard Forsman, Senator Sharon Nelson, Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar, and Vigor CEO Frank Foti spoke at the event. Photo WSDOT.