Chuck E, although you have a number of good points in your post, I will dispute that the timing of this is political. This storm has been brewing for a long time. I don't have all the details but I know the State sold these ferries to a leasing company and have leased them back. There is some sort of penalty for the State not using the ferries for the full term of the lease (or certainly not paying the full term!)

This deal has not really seen the light of day but it should. Somebody really screwed up this one and the engineer that first blew the whistle on the condition of one vessel should be held up as a hero. BTW, his report is at least 9 months old by now.