(SEATTLE) — Washington State Ferries (WSF) has scrapped plans to sell two decommissioned ferries after the buyer failed to tow the vessels out of Puget Sound, The Seattle Times reported.
The retired ferries — Elwha and Klahowya — were to be taken to Ecuador last month for recycling. But after the tow crew couldn’t connect the boats in tandem to the tugboat Wycliffe, and following allegations of mistreatment of the crew, the state agency terminated the sale contract.
“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,” Steve Nevey, who leads the agency, said in a prepared statement.
Since the boats were not removed by the contract’s deadline, the state still owns the ferries, according to WSF. Under default terms of the contract, the state agency said it will keep the $200,000 paid for the boats by Nelson Armas of Ecuador.
Nevey also cited allegations of the Wycliffe crew’s poor living conditions and fear of intimidation as reasons to cancel the deal. Armas rejected the allegations in previous emails to The Seattle Times.
“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 crewmembers. We take these matters seriously and are committed to incorporating these considerations into our plans for decommissioned ferries in the future.”
The two vessels will remain at WSF’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island until a new buyer can be found. The agency said “other potential buyers” have asked about the boats, and WSF is “engaging with these possible new owners.”
