Washington State Ferries Vessels & Terminals - Vessel preservation backlog

FY2024

Washington State Ferries' vessel preservation backlog increases by $26.5 million in fiscal year 2024

The Washington State Ferries vessel preservation backlog was $266.1 million in fiscal year 2024, up $26.5 million (11.1%) from $239.6 million in FY2023. At the start of the 2023-2025 biennium, WSF allotted $202.3 million to vessel preservation, but due to funding constraints later revised that amount to $189.9 million—funding sources are 100% state.

This $189.9 million investment level meets approximately 71% of the $266.1 million preservation backlog WSF identified in FY2024. Targeted investments reduced the preservation backlog for both the Jumbo and Issaquah class vessels in FY2024, but not enough to offset the overall increase in backlog for all vessels. The 11.1% increase in backlog for FY2024 is from overdue systems on the Jumbo Mark II class vessels and a substantial increase in overdue systems on both the Kwa-di-Tabil and Olympic Class vessels. This lack of investment has also resulted in a $6.4 million backlog for the fleet's newest vessels (Olympic Class), which previously had no backlog.

FY2023

Washington State Ferries' vessel preservation backlog decreases by $30.1 million in fiscal year 2023

The Washington State Ferries vessel preservation backlog was $239.6 million in fiscal year 2023, down $30.1 million (11.2%) from $269.7 million in FY2022. At the start of the 2021-2023 biennium, WSF allotted $91.9 million to vessel preservation, but later revised that amount to $141.5 million—funding sources are approximately 63% federal and 37% state.

This $141.5 million investment level meets approximately 60% of the $239.6 million preservation backlog WSF identified in FY2023. Targeted investments had a positive impact on reducing the preservation backlog, along with a system-wide review of the cost estimates within the preservation life cycle cost model (LCCM). The result was the second, and largest, backlog reduction in years. The first occurred when the backlog decreased 1.0% from $208.6 million in FY2018 to $206.5 million in FY2019. Prior to that, the vessel preservation backlog had grown annually since it was $88.3 million in FY2015.

FY2022

Washington State Ferries vessel preservation backlog increases by $6.5 million in FY2022

The Washington State Ferries vessel preservation backlog reached $269.7 million in fiscal year 2022, up $6.5 million (2.5%) from $263.2 million in FY2021. At the start of the 2021-2023 biennium, WSF allotted $91.9 million to vessel preservation, but later revised that amount to $141.5 million—funding sources are approximately 63% federal and 37% state.

This investment level ($141.5 million) meets approximately 52% of the $269.7 million preservation backlog WSF identified in FY2022. Over the past five years, the vessel preservation backlog has increased 29.3% ($61.1 million) from $208.6 million in FY2018.

FY2021

Washington State Ferries vessel preservation backlog increases by $17.7 million in FY2021

The Washington State Ferries vessel preservation backlog was $263.2 million in fiscal year 2021, up $17.7 million (7%) from $245.5 million in FY2020. WSF has allotted $91.9 million to vessel preservation for the 2021-2023 biennium-funding sources are approximately 63% federal and 37% state.

This investment level meets approximately 35% of the $263.2 million preservation backlog identified in the vessels Life-Cycle Cost Model for FY2021. Over the past five years, the vessel preservation backlog has increased 62.3 % from $162.2 million in FY2017.

FY2020

Washington State Ferries vessel preservation backlog increases by $39 million in FY2020

Washington State Ferries' vessel preservation backlog was $245.5 million in fiscal year 2020, up $39 million (18.9%) from $206.5 million in FY2019. WSF decommissioned the Motor/Vessel Elwha in FY2020, which removed $33.1 million from the total vessels backlog but reduced the fleet to 21 vessels. If the FY2019 backlog is adjusted to exclude the M/V Elwha, the change in backlog between the two years becomes $72.0 million or an increase of 41.5% ($173.5 million adjusted backlog in FY2019 compared to $245.5 million in FY2020).

The 52-year-old M/V Elwha accounted for approximately 16% of the vessel preservation backlog, but its removal in FY2019 was not enough to offset the continued backlog increase due to a constrained preservation budget combined with an aging fleet. As a result of this combination, the vessel preservation backlog has increased 85.6% in the past five years; from $132.3 million in FY2016 to $245.5 million in FY2020.