There was a bustle of activity at Holmes Harbor on Friday as Nichols Brothers Boat Builders prepared to ship out sections of the state’s newest ferry, the Chetzemoka.

Components of the vessel’s superstructure were hoisted onto barges for shipment to Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle, where they will be attached to the new ferry’s hull.

The Chetzemoka is expected to be placed on the Keystone-Port Townsend route this spring.

Nichols Brothers built the components as subcontractor to Todd on the project. The two companies also will cooperate on two additional 64-car ferries under a $114 million contract awarded by the state last year.

A fourth ferry may also be ordered, state officials indicated.

Three barges — two outfitted with cranes — were brought in to load the ferry superstructure. Onlookers were gathering along Shoreline Drive

early Friday to watch the ferry as it was loaded onto a barge.

Seattle-based Kelly-Ryan, Inc. is handling the transportation of the unfinished ferry to Todd. Barging the ferry to Seattle was expected to take 12 to 13 hours.

To watch the launching in progress, Nichols Brothers has a Web cam online <a href="http://www.nicholsboats.com/

current_projects.htm”>here.

Another section of the ferry is expected to be shipped out on Thursday