Washington State Ferries (WSF), Seattle, has put the decommissioned vessels Elwha and Klahowya back on the market after terminating a sales agreement with buyer Nelson Armas. This decision follows a series of setbacks, including a failed attempt to tow the ferries to Ecuador in August.
During the attempted tow, malfunctions in the towing equipment left the Elwha and Klahowya stranded in Puget Sound. As a result, the vessels were returned to WSF’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island. WSF assistant secretary Steve Nevey emphasized the decision to end the contract was in the state's best interest, citing repeated failures to meet contractual deadlines.
The termination of the deal also follows media reports about poor conditions faced by the crew aboard Wycliffe, another vessel involved in the attempted tow. Although Armas denied these claims, Nevey reaffirmed WSF's commitment to seafarer welfare.
“As a career mariner who spent the early part of my career working on internationally flagged ships, seafarer welfare is deeply personal to me,” Nevey said. “Though Mr. Armas denies these claims, it’s important to reaffirm that WSF’s values prioritize the fair treatment and safety of all crew members. We take these matters seriously and are committed to incorporating these considerations into our plans for decommissioned ferries in the future.”
The collapse of the sale comes with a financial consequence for Armas, who forfeited $200,000 in deposits—$100,000 per vessel—as stipulated in the purchase agreements. WSF has used a portion of these funds to cover the removal of fuel left on board, while the remaining money will go into the Puget Sound Ferry operations account, consistent with past sales of retired ferries.
Despite the setback, WSF has already received interest from other potential buyers. The ferry system, which operates under the Washington State Department of Transportation, is eager to finalize the sale of both vessels to free up dock space at the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, where ongoing maintenance of the current fleet takes priority. The removal of these boats will also reduce operational costs, the press release from WSF noted, as moving the decommissioned vessels requires tugboats and crew, diverting resources from active ferry operations.
In addition to the Elwha and Klahowya, a third decommissioned ferry, Hyak, remains in the process of being sold. WSF has stated that further information will be provided once that sale is completed.
The Elwha and Hyak are two of four Super-class ferries built in the 1960s, with the Elwha primarily serving the Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney, British Columbia route until its retirement in 2020. The Hyak was decommissioned in 2019 after serving on the Seattle/Bremerton route. The remaining two Super-class ferries, Kaleetan and Yakima, remain in service.
The Klahowya, built in 1958, served the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route for most of its career before being reassigned to the San Juan Islands interisland run in 2014. It was retired in 2017 and replaced by its sister ship, Tillikum, on the same route.
