Cracks found in year-old Chetzemoka's propellers

M/V Chetzemoka has problems. Supposedly it is just out of the manufacturer's warranty period.Hopefully Vigor does right by the State of Washington. The ship was actually built by Todd Shipyards which was acquired by Vigor.

 

From KOMO News: 

By Ray Lane Published: Nov 9, 2011 at 5:26 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 9, 2011 at 6:49 PM PST

 

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SEATTLE -- Thousands of dollars in repairs are in the works after cracks were found on the propellers of Washington state's newest and most expensive ferry boat.

The ferry Chetzemoka was built by Vigor Industrial, which was formally known as Todd Pacific Shipyards.But the propellers were built by Rolls-Royce Marine.

Both businesses say they're trying to figure out what happened.

The Chetzemoka is running with patched-up propellers. Washington State Ferries says the ferry had been in dry dock in Anacortes for scheduled repairs for more than three weeks, during which time inspectors found hairline cracks on one of the 8,000-pound propellers.

Additional tests showed that each of the five blades on both propellers had cracked near the hub. The ferry system says it appears that improperly cast stainless steel is to blame for the problems. Officials believe a high-carbon content made the metal too porous and too brittle.

"These are big ships plowing the waters of Puget Sound in salt water. Stuff happens," said David Moseley of WSF. "That's why we are diligent about the maintenance of these boats, and that's why we're diligent every time we take them out of the water."

Vigor Industrial says two other new ferries of the same class - the Salish and Kennewick - have different, variable-pitch bronze propellers, and therefore should not have the same problems.

One year ago, when the $77 million Chetzemoka made its inaugural run from Whidbey Island to Port Townsend, it was heralded as a new lifeline that could handle the rough waters of Puget Sound.

Transportation officials defended the cost, and the companies that constructed it.

"We have tremendous builders in Washington state and they will help us maintain and preserve these boats for the 60-plus years they're in life," said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond.

Replacement propellers are now being made for the Chetzemoka, but they won't be ready until April.

The state says it'll file a warranty claim against Vigor Industrial to pay for the new props, which cost $70,000 per piece.

VIGOR & US Fab Deliver New Ferry to Washington State

From Professional Mariner

(11/7/2011)

SEATTLE, WA - One completed, one to begin. Even as VIGOR Industrial this week delivered the final new 64-car ferry to Washington State Ferries, the company's US Fab shipbuilding division received a green light from the state to begin constructing the system's next vessel. On Monday, the companies delivered the state's newest ferry, Kennewick, to WSF, three months ahead of schedule. Separately, the state today authorized the shipbuilder to begin constructing Washington's next new ferry, a 144-car vessel designed to provide maximum capacity in the system's Pacific Northwest waters. Today's "notice of award" allows US Fab to begin production after it finalizes its contracts and begins to order steel and other materials. The ferry construction will generate more than 500 jobs around Puget Sound, with more than half of the work and materials expected to come from two dozen regional subcontractors and vendors. "These are two great steps for the people who ride and rely on Washington State ferries as well as for those of us who build these ships," said Kevin Quigley, president of VIGOR's US Fab division. "Tens of thousands of people will ride the Kennewick and then the new 144-car ferry every month. And hundreds of Washington workers will have jobs building and outfitting the new boat in our shipyards and with our subcontractors and suppliers throughout the region." The just-completed ferry and the just-approved one are both major milestones for Washington's vessel replacement program. "We're elated that our partners at Vigor shipyards delivered the Kennewick three months ahead of schedule — that means our customers will get to enjoy a new vessel even sooner than we'd planned," said David Moseley, Assistant Secretary of Transportation and WSF director. "And I am thrilled that we are moving forward with the 144-car ferry program. This vessel will allow us to retire the 55-year old ferry Evergreen State and provide more reliable service to our customers." The final negotiated price of $115.4 million includes more than $6 million cut from the company's initial contract submission. VIGOR, US Fab and WSF worked closely together to eliminate non-essential items while maintaining safety, performance and passenger conveniences. Savings include the use of some new materials and improved methods for building mechanical systems, as well as improved construction scheduling, more efficient training, stricter quality assurance and new contract management approaches that VIGOR and its team learned from building the 64-car ferries. The new ferry will cost $400,000 less per car-slot than the initial 64-car Kwa-di Tabil class vessel. Construction will generate an estimated 200 family-wage jobs at VIGOR's large Harbor Island facility, which the company acquired when it purchased Todd Pacific Shipyards in February. The work also will provide an additional 350 jobs at subcontractors, vendors and other shipyards in the region and will support thousands of additional indirect jobs. "Industrial jobs really matter in this state," said Frank Foti, VIGOR president and chief executive officer. "With this ferry, we're expanding the proud, hundred-year legacy of shipbuilding at Harbor Island. We're continuing the successful model of teaming with other shipyards around the state, as we did with Kennewick and its two sister ships. And we'll be building the newest ferry that passengers, Washington State Ferries, the Legislature and the Governor all determined is very much needed." Today's notice of award is the next step in a contract initially adopted by the state in December 2007 with funding overwhelmingly approved by the legislature and governor this spring. "We're ready to get underway," Quigley said. "We believe our subcontractors share our commitment to building the vessel the Legislature and WSF want at the lowest possible cost, delivering the best value possible to the state and the ferry passengers." The 144-car ferry will be the ninth built at Harbor Island when it joins Kennewick and 22 other vessels in the WSF fleet. The system is the largest ferry operation in the United States and the fourth largest in the world. The shipbuilders expect to start "cutting steel" in early 2012; final construction will last up to 27 months.

Mechanical problem halts West Seattle water taxi runs.

Mechanical problem halts West Seattle water taxi runs

by KING5.com

KING5.com

Posted on October 28, 2011 at 5:51 PM

Updated today at 6:18 PM

The water taxi making runs between downtown and West Seattle was taken out of service Friday afternoon after it completed the 5:15 p.m. run, King County Metro said.

The crew of the Rachel Marie discovered a mechanical problem. The boat made it safely to West Seattle and was seen docked at the pier at Seacrest Park shortly after 5:30 p.m..

People aboard the 5:15 run reported smelling smoke and that the boat lost power and drifted for a short period of time.

The 5:45 p.m., 6:15 p.m., and 6:45 p.m. sailings from downtown have been canceled. The Vashon Water Taxi will take over the Rachel Marie's Route, leaving Pier 50 downtown around 7:45 p.m. The Vashon boat -- the Melissa Ann -- will work the West Seattle run through the weekend.

The Rachel Marie broke down last Sunday and was taken out of service for Monday's morning commute, West Seattle Blog noted in its reporting on Friday's mishap.