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Devlin Designing Boat Builders of Tumwater extended the length of the Kitsap Transit ferry by adding an aft cabin, increasing the size to about 65 feet from 50 feet so it can transport more passengers on a short-but-busy route from Port Orchard to Bremerton, and Bremerton to Annapolis (near Port Orchard), said John Clauson, service-development director for Kitsap Transit.
The ferry, which has twin hulls, was built in 1994 and now can transport 120 passengers, up from 83, he said. The cost to lengthen the boat, plus add two new diesel engines, was about $1.4 million, Kitsap Transit executive director Dick Hayes said.
The ferry was loaded onto a truck in Tumwater on Wednesday, then was transported to the Port of Olympia’s Swantown Boatworks about 3:30 a.m Friday, project foreman Cooper Devlin said.
Devlin and Boatworks employees gathered to assist in the launch about 8 a.m., and an hour later the 52,000-pound ferry had been lifted and lowered into East Bay.
Although Devlin Designing Boat Builders did not build the ferry from the ground up, it still ranks as its biggest project, Cooper Devlin said.
Although it was a big project, the Port of Olympia has handled larger vessels, such as commercial fishing boats, said Jessica Doyle, marine-service coordinator for Swantown Boatworks.
The boat will spend about another week here undergoing more inspections; it is expected to be back in service Jan. 22, Clauson said.
Kitsap Transit passengers are looking forward to the return of the Admiral Pete because two other ferries in use to replace the Pete are smaller, one accommodating 49 passengers and the other 17, he said.
Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403
rboone@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/bizblog
