FILE - On Aug. 19, 2024, retired Washington State Ferries Elwha and Klahowya will be towed out of the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island and on to their next destination: Ecuador.
WSF said in August, Armas attempted to move the vessels to Ecuador, but tow equipment malfunctioned in the Puget Sound. Both boats were returned to WSF's Eagle Harbor maintenance facility on Bainbridge Island, according to“It’s in the best interest of Washington state, the public, and WSF to sever ties due to multiple failures to meet contractual obligations and deadlines,” said WSF Assistant Secretary Steve Nevey.
"Under default terms of the contracts, Armas forfeits the $200,000 paid for the boats as damages," WSF wrote on its website. "WSF has used some of those funds to cover costs for removing leftover fuel from the ferries. The balance of those funds will be transferred into the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account, which is consistent with past sales of retired vessels."