Date:
Monday, February 25, 2008
Contact:
Susan Harris-Huether, Senior Programs Manager, Customer Information and Communications, 206-515-3460
SEATTLE - WSDOT's Ferries Division announced today that the 202-car Wenatchee's U.S. Coast Guard credit drydocking was completed a day ahead of schedule, and returned to the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route.
"With the Coast Guard at our side, our Ferries maintenance and preservation team inspected the Wenatchee thoroughly in three days with good results on hull, propeller and rudder condition," said Steve Reinmuth, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Ferries Division. "However, we apologize to our customers on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route, because this news means the slight downsizing of that route occurs a day sooner than we anticipated."
The 144-car Kaleetan that has been serving the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route is next in line for dry dock inspections and maintenance repairs. The 124-car Chelan will move from the Seattle/Bremerton route to replace the Kaleetan on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route, reducing capacity on the Anacortes/San Juan route by 20 vehicles. The Chelan is scheduled to serve the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route until late March.
Other vessels have moved to different routes today. The 188-car Walla Walla moved to the Seattle/Bremerton route from a short stint on the Edmonds-Kingston route. The 202-car Puyallup returned to the Edmonds/Kingston route from its time replacing the Wenatchee on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route.
WSDOT's Ferries Division continues to make temporary service adjustments to maintain and inspect ferries system wide. The Ferries Division will tell customers about temporary service changes as soon as information is available. Please visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/service for more information on advertised temporary service changes caused by planned vessel dry-docking.
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No Ordinary Journey
Created on June 1, 1951, Washington State Ferries (WSF) is the largest ferry system in the United States and the largest ferry system in the world based on vehicles carried. More than 24 million people a year ride the ferries and over 30,000 vehicles a day use this critical link in the state highway system. WSF has a fleet of 28 vessels and operates 20 terminals throughout Puget Sound.
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