PORT TOWNSEND – Washington State Ferries is now planning smaller vessels for the Port Townsend-Keystone run and to keep the Keystone terminal on Whidbey Island at its existing location, Mike Anderson, State Ferries executive director, said Wednesday.

“That will mean we will look at vessels of 100 cars or less,” Anderson said in a phone interview after he announced the change of course to Port Townsend Ferry Advisory Committee members at the Pope Marine Building downtown.

More than a year ago, Ferries officials proposed fewer runs with larger ferries carrying between 124 and 144 cars and a Port Townsend terminal that would extend 180 feet into Port Townsend Bay for 70 additional holding spaces on the dock.

Anderson said Wednesday that the new tack was in great part the result of public comments from both sides of the ferry run.

The change aims at establishing vessels that will carry between 60 and 100 vehicles, but which are no smaller than the 80-year-old Steel Electric vessels now in use.

The vessels are the oldest ferries in the world, State Ferries officials say.