Smooth sailing for Chimacum as newest ferry’s name

BREMERTON – Chimacum was chosen as the name for the newest Washington state ferry because workers and the state Transportation Commission wanted to avoid any possible confusion that would arise from having another ferry that begins with S.

The commission selected the name at its meeting Wednesday in Lakewood.

Construction on the $123 million ferry begins this fall at the Vigor Industrial shipyard in Seattle, the Kitsap Sun reported. Delivery is expected in 2017, and it’s projected to go on the Bremerton-Seattle route.

Chimacum is a tribal name, following the tradition for most state ferries. It will be the third new 144-car ferry after the Samish and Tokitae. The fleet also has the 64-car ferry Salish.