What kind of propulsion system will the 64-car ferries have?
WSF will use two sets of engines from the 144-car ferry contract for the first two 64-car ferries. Because WSF already owns the equipment, this will expedite construction of the first vessel, as procurement of the engines typically takes up to 20 months. Changing the propulsion system to anything other than the diesel mechanical system in the current Island Home design will cause a significant delay in design (8-12 additional months). WSF has studied various propulsion systems as part of the vessel planning process for the Port Townsend/Keystone route. The Island Home propulsion system has proven reliability, good stopping power, and performs well in rough seas and in tight maneuvering situations. The design does not include an interconnected propulsion system. This feature would add redundancy, but, as designed, each engine has adequate horsepower to stop and maneuver the vessel in an emergency. To redesign this feature would require a minimum of 8–12 months of design time and would i
