Florida company selected to build hybrid-electric ferries for WSF, sparking local job concerns
Washington State has selected Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries for Washington State Ferries (WSF) at a cost of $714.5 million, a decision that prioritizes cost savings but has raised concerns about bypassing local shipbuilders and its impact on Washington’s economy. “After careful consideration and conversations with legislative leaders, I […]
Gov Ferguson announces ferry service expansions, including a new hybrid-electric boat
SEATTLE—Governor Bob Ferguson, joined by Chair of Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), Representative Greg Nance (D-Kitsap), and Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler, announced new service expansions to the Washington State Ferry system Thursday, June 13, including a second boat to the Seattle-Bremerton route beginning this weekend. “We are a ferry dependent community. And for […]
New Economic Benefits study confirms building new hybrid ferries in-state good for Washington economy
EVERETT – A new independent study by Pennsylvania-based Martin Associates confirms the economic value of building the new Washington State Ferries hybrid fleet in-state, showing that each ferry constructed in the state would generate 1,298 jobs and $31.9 million in state and local taxes. Washington State Ferries, which operates the largest ferry system in the […]
Marysville-based Echandia slated to begin full-fledged manufacturing by Q3 this year
MARYSVILLE—Maritime electrification company Echandia is set to begin full-fledged manufacturing in Marysville, under the Build America Buy America Act and Federal Transportation Authority (FTA) standards, by Q3 of this year. Echandia was founded by Magnus Eriksson in 2018. Erikkson had worked in the battery industry for quite some time prior, always on the search of […]
At the Brink: Inslee issues $1.5 million emergency funding to restore San Juan ferry service
During a meeting with San Juan Island leaders, residents and businesses on Tuesday, September 17, Governor Jay Inslee announced he is issuing $1.5 million in emergency and short-term funding to restore critical ferry transportation networks throughout the San Juan Islands. Due to crewing challenges, the Interisland route has been the least reliable in the system, […]
WA scuttles $200,000 sale of two retired state ferries to Ecuador
Washington’s nearly two-year effort to unload a pair of retired state ferries ran aground this week as officials with Washington State Ferries announced on September 5 that the agreement to sell the Elwha and Klahowya for $100,000 each to Nelson Armas who planned to tow them to Ecuador to be scrapped. This might turn out to […]
Green-maritime manufacturer Echandia opens first US-based facility in Marysville
MARYSVILLE—Leading Swedish provider of maritime battery systems, Echandia, opens its first US-based production facility in Marysville, adding over two dozen living-wage jobs to the region’s expanding Cascade Industrial Center (CIC)—a 4,000-acre manufacturing and industrial zoned land approved by the state legislature to attract businesses to the cities of Marysville and Arlington. “I would really like […]
ORCA Card now available in Google Wallet; pay for transit with phone and Wear OS devices
SEATTLE—ORCA is excited to announce the ability to save and access ORCA transit cards in Google Wallet from Android and Wear OS devices. Starting on June 24, customers across the Puget Sound region can add an ORCA card to Google Wallet for convenient transit payments. Now ORCA customers with Android and Wear OS devices can […]
Washington Ferries receive $4.8 million grant to refurbish six vessels
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 2, 2023—Washington State Ferries (WSF) received $4.8 million in federal funding to refurbish the passenger sections of six aging vessels in its fleet. “Our ferry system is a critical part of our transportation network and ridership is growing. With this money, Washington State Ferries will extend the useful life of six vessels […]
Multi-agency search for missing diver in Mukilteo
MUKILTEO, Wash., June 17, 2022 – Today, at approximately 9:15 a.m., the Mukilteo Police Department (MPD) and the Mukilteo Fire Department responded to a diver in distress call at Lighthouse Park. According to the MPD’s press release, two recreation divers entered the water together, but only one came out, a 33-year-old man from Everett. This […]
