Eric Osnes could also be a mariner, nevertheless it appears he’s spun fairly a sea story [“Let international shipyards compete for WA ferries,” June 17, Opinion].
The B.C. ferries he alludes to are actually lower than a 3rd the dimensions of the brand new electrical boats Washington needs to construct.
They’re even a 3rd smaller than the three 64-car, 768-passenger Kwa-di Tabil class boats working between Port Orchard and Whidbey Island. They’re slower, making 14 knots vs. 15.
The B.C. boats will nonetheless have to be transformed to all-electric propulsion once they get their shore terminals prepared. They’re hybrid now, working on diesel with electrical backup.
You can’t examine the 2 ferry methods’ boats. They’re serving totally different functions. Nor are you able to examine the prices of LNG tankers to ferries. Our system builds boats for a 50-year life. LNG tankers could attain 30 years, however altering expertise could make new LNG ships out of date in 25 years.
Lastly, B.C. signed its construct contracts earlier than COVID-19 and its post-inflationary pressures.
Let’s get past anger and blame; simply construct the rattling boats. Construct them two at a time.
Signal contracts for 5 with choices for extra. Then, be certain that this dire scenario by no means involves cross once more.
Thom Younger, Ocean Shores