Bye, bye Wahkiakum; Oscar B. here Friday

The good news is that Wahkiakum County's new ferry, the Oscar B., will arrive at the Puget Island ferry landing around mid-day this Friday.

The bad news is that ferry service will be suspended at mid-day on Thursday until some time the following Monday for piling work, crew training and US Coast Guard inspection.

"Exact timetable details are still being fine-tuned," Wahkiakum County Public Works Director Pete Ringen said in an email Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ringen announced that the ferry Wahkiakum would go out of service around 11 a.m. Thursday and depart for moorage in Astoria until its future is settled. It has provided service since 1961.

Ferry crews will use the weekend for further training and to test the ferry's handling of temporary ramps on both sides of the river.

"No public will be allowed," Ringen said, "only one public works vehicle may be seen crossing for testing purposes."

On Monday, the US Coast Guard is scheduled to perform an inspection of Oscar B.

"If all goes as anticipated, we expect to put the Oscar B. into service later that day," Ringen said.

To accommodate the Oscar B., crews will have to adjust piling locations and set up a three-phase power connection.

Pilings which the Wahkiakum uses for mooring will have to be removed, Ringen said Tuesday. After discussions with the contractor, it was decided service should be suspended Thursday to allow the contractor sufficient time to get the work done before the arrival of the Oscar B.

When moored, the Wahkiakum is connected to single phase electricity, and with that gone, and no power connection at the Westport, Ore., ramp, there is no suitable place to moor the older ferry.

"We need to immediately change out the shore power so that it serves Oscar B., after which it will no longer work for Wahkiakum," Ringen said.

Because of environmental permits, all in-water work must be completed by February 28. A change-out of the ramp apron nosing, that transfers loads from the ramp to the deck of the vessel will be completed later, Ringen said.

"We will operate with the existing apron nosing, which means we will only handle cars and pickup trucks until this work is completed," Ringen said. "Once the new apron nosing is in place, it will fit into a key notch on the deck of the Oscar B. which helps transfer heavier loads.

"The reason for the delays on the apron nosing is that it will require another ferry service shutdown that will coincide with ramp work on the Oregon side. The later shutdown is tentatively scheduled for mid-April.

"All ramp work at Puget Island will be completed after that tentative mid-April shut-down. I do not have the same level of information about the Oregon work; however, I believe their work will be ended around May 1."