![A Washington State Ferries vessel 52fbadf952fc89b2765f48c72fb1eb0a](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fmedia%2Fk2%2Fitems%2Fsrc%2F52fbadf952fc89b2765f48c72fb1eb0a.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
American Ro-Pax operator Washington State Ferries (WSF) has unveiled its plans to acquire 16 new vessels in the next 20 years.
With more than half of the company's 23 vessels scheduled to be retired through to 2040, the long-term fleet modernisation programme seeks to introduce into service 13 newbuilds to replace vessels due for retirement and three additional vessels to fill in when other ferries are out for maintenance and to respond to growth.
The acquisition of new vessels is subject to approval by the Washington State Legislature.