Nichols Brothers Boat Builders Launch 144-Car Washington State Ferry Superstructure

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders successfully launches the M/V Tokitae Superstructure, Washington State’s first new 144-Car Ferry.

On Saturday, March 2nd, 2013 Nichols Brothers loaded the 1110 ton Superstructure onto a Kelly-Ryan Services, Inc. barge to be delivered to US Fab in Seattle, WA for final assembly.

Nichols began construction on the Superstructure in March of 2012. Nichols hired an additional 100 tradesmen to carry out the scope of work for the new ferry along with two tractor tugs Nichols also had contracted.

Nichols used a complex hydraulic transfer system designed by Engineered Heavy Services of Everett, WA to move the structure approximately 600 feet. It began the journey from inside the Nichols yard, on Friday, March 1st at 12:30 P.M. At 5:30 P.M. it moved 300 feet and sat on the I-beam tracks overnight before being transferred to the barge. On Saturday, movement continued at 10:00 A.M. and was completed by 5:00 P.M. Sunday morning at approximately 5:30 A.M. the Superstructure arrived at US Fab.

Nichols has already begun fabrication on sections of the second 144-Car Ferry and will immediately begin assembling the final structure. The second structure is to be delivered in January 2014 to US Fab.