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Washington state launches new ferry Samish in Anacortes

Published  May 20, 2015 5:17pm PDT
Associated Press



The state's first lady, Trudi Inslee, christens the new ferry Samish in Anacortes on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. (Photo: Washington State Ferries)



ANACORTES, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Department of Transportation launched a new 144-car ferry at its Anacortes ferry terminal on Wednesday.

The ferry Samish is the second of three new ferries being built to replace boats built in the 1950s. The Samish Indian Nation participated in a celebration for the new ferry, as did Washington's first lady, Trudi Inslee.

The Samish is set to begin sailing on the Anacortes-San Juan Islands route in June.

The first new 144-car ferry, the Tokitae, was completed in March 2014 and is running on the Mukilteo/Clinton run.

Construction of the third Olympic class ferry, the Chimacum, began last fall.