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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011 — (C)
PeninsulaNorthwest
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Heftier riders reduce state ferry capacity Estimates of passenger weight raised BY DOUG ESSER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE — The state ferry service isn’t going to start turning away hefty passengers, but it has had to reduce the capacity of some boats in the nation’s largest ferry system because people have been packing on the pounds. Coast Guard vessel stability rules that took effect nationwide Dec. 1 raised the estimated weight of the average adult passenger to 185 pounds from the previous 160 pounds, based on population information from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That has resulted in a reduced capacity for some of the Washington State Ferry system’s boats.
Salish unaffected The change doesn’t affect the Salish, which can carry 750 passengers as it plies the route between Port Townsend and Coupeville on Whidbey Island, or any other vessels in the Kwa-di Tabil class, said Marta Coursey, Washington State Ferries spokeswoman. The change does apply to some larger ferries, such as the Evergreen State and Tillikum, she said. And the Coast Guard said smaller charter fishing vessels could be affected. During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and about one-third of American adults are now considered obese, the CDC says on its website. The state ferry system has complied with the new stability rules by simply reducing the listed capacity of some of its vessels, Coast Guard Lt. Eric Young said Wednesday.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Passengers prepare to disembark from the ferry Puyallup on its arrival at Bainbridge Island on Wednesday. The Washington State Ferry service isn’t going to start turning away hefty passengers, but it has had to reduce the capacity of the nation’s largest ferry system because people have been packing on the pounds. “That has effectively reduced the amount of passengers by about 250 passengers or so depending on the particular ferry,” said Young, who is based in Seattle. “They generally carry about 2,000, so it’s down to 1,750 now.” With that many passengers, the ferry wouldn’t tip over even if everyone ran to the side at the same time to look at a pod of orcas, he said.
Stability rules won’t affect Coho THE NEW COAST GUARD vessel stability rules have no effect on the capacity of the MV Coho, said the Port Angeles district manager for Black Ball Ferry Line. “We had our stability numbers recalculated and it was found that the new USCG stability rules will not effect our passenger capacity of 1,000,” said Rian Anderson, in an email.
The Coho plies the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles and Victoria several times a day. It leaves Port Angeles from the Black Ball ferry terminal on Railroad Avenue. For more information, phone 360457-4491 or see www.cohoferry.com/ main. Peninsula Daily News
No practical effect The reduced passenger capacity is unlikely to have much practical effect on the spacious ferries, Coursey said. The ferries often fill up
with vehicles, but the number of passengers, especially walk-ons is seldom a problem, she said. The new stability rules may have a bigger impact
on the smaller charter fishing boats, such as those that take anglers fishing out of the Pacific Ocean ports of Westport and Ilwaco, Young said.
Any vessel that carries more than six paying customers has to be inspected and certified by the Coast Guard as a passenger vessel.
The state operates 23 white and green vessels on 10 routes across Puget Sound and through the San Juan Islands to British Columbia. Carrying more than 22 million passengers a year, it’s the biggest ferry system in the United States and one of the four largest in the world, Coursey said. The ferries themselves could be contributing to passenger girth. The galleys cater to customers looking for fast food they can eat while looking out the windows at the scenery and seagulls. Calorie counters typically aren’t buying the hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken strips.
Spruce: Opposition formed over trail steepness CONTINUED FROM A1 tion from the Peninsula Trails Coalition, the ClalThat would mean a por- lam County commissioners tion of the former railroad and Port Angeles City would be too steep for Council who said the trail should be wider and use an wheelchairs to avoid cut- alternative route to avoid ting down trees and dis- the steep, 18 percent grade. turbing soil near the lake. Barb Maynes, park That prompted opposi- spokeswoman, said solu-
tions to those concerns made by the county and could be considered among trails coalition will be adopted. the new alternatives. “I know people are eager for a decision . . . we’re No decisions examining a full range of But the park has made alternatives,” Maynes said. no decisions, she said, as to “We got to do it right and what the trail will look like, make sure we are making a and whether proposals decision based on as much
information as we can get.” Andy Stevenson, trails coalition vice president, said he views the announcement as a “very positive outcome” but added he is still somewhat skeptical that the new process will resolve the coalition’s concerns.
“I view this as close to the best [outcome] as we could get at this moment in time,” he said.
________ Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews. com.
Freed: Allison not likely to flee, attorney says CONTINUED FROM A1 diminish the deterrent effect of the punishment.” “Purdy will still be there Anderson argued in his written motion for the stay when this appeal is conof sentencing that the cir- cluded and the term of the cumstances surrounding sentence will remain the Allison’s crimes and her same unless modified for behavior did not meet the reasons not likely to appear legal requirements for or apparent now,” he said. Nor will the stay “cause keeping her in prison pendunreasonable trauma to vicing appeal. Anderson said Allison tims of the crimes or their was not likely to flee and families,” Anderson said. “No victims spoke at senargued that staying the sentence will not “unduly tencing, and in fact the vic-
tim is the state, and not any particular individuals,” Anderson said. “This is not a sex crime, a crime of violence or a crime against persons. It is purely an economic crime against the state.”
Diminish effect Marlow argued that releasing Allison would diminish the sentence’s deterrent effect, noting the crimes were discovered in
November 2006. Allison was arrested in December 2006. Investigators discovered $51,251 missing from the evidence room, but Allison was linked to only $8,644. “The notion that punishment follows wrong behavior is a bedrock principle in our society,” Marlow wrote in his response to Anderson’s motion. “The fact is that this case, because of its nature
as another incident of public corruption, has been and is being watched by the people of Clallam County and beyond.” Marlow successfully prosecuted former Clallam County Treasurer’s Office Cashier Catherine Betts, who in August was sentenced to 12 years for stealing between $617,467 and $795,595 in real estate excise tax proceeds between June 2003 and May 2009.
Authorities have said the thefts by Betts and Allison are not connected, but they have one thing in common: The stolen money in both cases has never been recovered. Marlow and Anderson did not return calls for comment Wednesday morning.
________ Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladaily news.com.
Balloon: Rides will be first-come, first-served CONTINUED FROM A1 b a l l o o n f e s t i v a l . c o m , explained how balloon rides “I just want to see and balloon tethers will Sequim from on high work for the Sequim Balbecause I’ve never been loon Festival. “We have no doubt that over Sequim before,” he balloon rides will sell out, so said. Dupont said he believes if you are interested sign up now,” Tomaras said. the festival, its balloon rides “To be fair, we will take and several other related people on a first-come, firstevents was worthwhile serve basis. “because what it is going to The balloons will fly do for Sequim. three mornings, weather “It’s going to being more permitting, and usually people here.” only go up early before the “I’m trying to get other temperature heats up and people to ride with me, but I the winds become unprecan’t find anyone brave dictable, he said. enough to go up,” Dupont Most balloons hold three added. people and a pilot. Tomaras, on the festiAll the pilots will be cerval’s Web site, www.sequim tified by the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, Tomaras said, and must have a required number of hours before they can take passengers on rides. For the safety of the passengers, balloons will not go up if it is raining or windy, he said, which is why the festival was planned for September, which is normally the driest and most windless time of year. Tomaras drives home the point that in the past 31 years there have only been two days that it rained and two days that the wind has blown more than 12 miles per hour in September. If balloons do not go up, people will receive a full refund, he said.
The expense of ballooning is another factor in the cost per flight, he said. A four-person balloon starts at $30,000. The more colors and design a balloon has, the more expensive it is. Balloons with unique shapes are far more expensive, he said. The cost of chase vehicles and the trailers can run up to $70,000. All balloonists that take people up for rides carry insurance that cost $1,000 a year per balloon. Then there is the propane fuel, which can run up to $150 a run. Since there are not many balloons, most balloonists
travel a long distance to get to a festival. Gasoline and other expenses can cost $300 to 1,000 for a round trip. A balloon is good for 500 to 600 hours of flying time. Most balloon festivals do not offer rides because it increases the festival insurance, Tomaras said. “I say all this because most people ask me why do balloon rides cost $250 per person,” he said. “The truth is balloonists love their sport and they love to share and while you may be paying $250 for a lifetime experience, you are being partly subsidized by the balloonist, their sponsor, and the Sequim
Balloon Festival.” Sponsors of each balloon pay $1,500. “It is some of the best advertising they can possibly have because so many pictures are taken and people talk about the event forever,” Tomaras said. A festival volunteers meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Holiday Inn conference center. Reservations can be made by emailing Sequim BalloonFestival@gmail.com or calling 360-461-2202.
________ Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@ peninsuladailynews.com.