Vigor Fab delivered the Tokitae, the state’s newest ferry, to Washington State Ferry officials this week.
“Vigor Fab built a top-notch, first-in-class vessel on budget and on time to serve WSF’s peak summer season,” said Senior Vice President Joe Corvelli, head of Vigor Fab, Vigor Industrial’s ship building unit. “The Tokitae is the result of all the skill, hard work and dedication our shipbuilding teams bring to the job every day. These workers have built a vessel ready to serve the people of Washington for the next 60 years.”
“We have a longstanding, productive partnership in new vessel construction with Vigor,” said Capt. George A. Capacci, interim assistant secretary in charge of WSF. “I am elated that we have accepted the Tokitae. Vigor and their subcontractors have delivered a good product that will serve our customers for decades to come.”
The Tokitae is the first of three 144-car ferries currently planned. The 362'x83', 1,500-passenger vessel will enter service this summer on the Clinton-Mukilteo route. The second vessel, the Samish, is currently under construction at Vigor with delivery planned for early next year. State lawmakers have provided funding for a third ferry and construction is expected to start toward the end of this year.
“More than just a great boat, this ferry represents jobs for more than 500 skilled maritime workers at Vigor and subcontractors around Puget Sound,” Corvelli said. “The Tokitae is an excellent example of the high-quality complex vessels we can build here in the Pacific Northwest.”
The public is invited to take a tour of the vessel before it goes into service at WSF’s community celebration and open house Sunday, June 8, at the Clinton ferry terminal.
Related content:
Video: 144-car ferry floated out of drydock
State leaders christen the first Olympic class ferry at Vigor
