This first of two 64-car state ferries to be built for the Port Townsend-Keystone route will be named for Chetzemoka, the Klallam chief who befriended 19th century settlers on the Olympic Peninsula.  

The MV Chetzemoka will be the first new Washington state ferry to go into service in a decade. But it won't be the first ferry to carry the name of the venerable Klallam chief.

The first Chetzemoka sailed under private ownership between Port Townsend and Edmonds from 1938 to 1947.  It was a wood-electric ferry.

Chetzemoka, who was known as a peaceful man and a wise diplomat, was believed to be about 80 years old when he was buried in 1888 at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend.

The Chetzemoka name recognizes the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe, now based in Blyn, part of the 1855 Point No Point Treaty that Chetzemoka signed, and honors the natives of the region and their seafaring skills and traditions.

The Ferry Chetzemoka continues the proud name of the historic ferry that served Port Townsend.

We at K & K Industries are proud to have been a part of bringing the Chetzemoka to life.

The Chetzemoka is being assembled at Todd Pacific Shipyards and will be floated to Everett for final fittings of seating and amenities  . Here are a few pictures of the aluminum modules that K & K cut, Nichols Brothers Boats fabricated and Todd Pacific Shipyards is assembling.

                      Here is one of the assembled pilot house units before loading onto the ferry.      

      Here is one of the pilot house assemblies being loaded on a ferry to float to Todd Pacific Shipyards.   

                 Here they are lifting the aluminum sections from the barges to the assembly dry dock.  

                                          One of the Pilot Houses is put into place on the ferry.

                                       The second Pilot House is lifted on to the ferry.

                                     The Ferry is now in dry dock for welding and assembly.

 The Chetzemoka being painted and assembled at Todd Pacific.

The Chetzemoka was floated for the first time on March 2, 2010 at Todd Pacific Shipyards.

All of us at K & K Industries are very proud of our contribution of cutting all the aluminum for this beautiful new Ferry.

 At this time K & K  has finshed  the process of cutting the aluminum for the next 64 car Ferry for the Keystone to Port Townsend run.   The second ferry is to be named The Salish and should be in service in the late Spring or Summer of 2011.     

We have started cuting the aluminum for the third of the 64 car Ferries.  The third Ferry is to be named The Kennewick and will service the Port Defiance/Tahlequah route.    The Kennewick should be in service in the Spring of 2012.

All of us here are very proud to be bringing these beautiful new ferries to life.