By The Associated Press
PORT TOWNSEND — A big wave damaged the passenger-only ferry Snohomish, and the ferry system suspended service on the Port Townsend-Keystone route today.
A passenger told KING-TV the wave hit during the 9:05 a.m. crossing from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island. It knocked out the front doors on the ferry and swamped the deck with water. No injuries reported.
Waves also crashed over the bow last Friday and water rushed into the cabin.
Meanwhile, the 50-car Steilacoom II is undergoing sea trials this week on Admiralty Inlet and car-ferry service could resume as soon as Saturday. The Steilacoom II tested the crossing with loaded gravel trucks with a weight of more than 200,000 pounds aboard.
The Port Townsend-Keystone route has had only passenger service since November when the Transportation Department pulled four 80-year-old Steel Electric-class ferries out of service because of hull corrosion.
Earlier report:
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
OLYMPIA — State lawmakers are discussing Washington State Ferries staff cutbacks to help finance two large ferries for the Port Townsend-Keystone route, state Rep. Lynn Kessler said Wednesday.
The Democratic House majority leader from Hoquiam said she did not know how many jobs were on the line, but that the money saved would be “enough to bond for at least one or two boats of 100 cars or less.”
“We are cutting positions at ferries and getting a new administrator,” Kessler said.
“There will be a new way of doing things,” Kessler said.
“It’s a new day and a new way.”
David Moseley, who was named by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday as the new ferry chief, “was brought in to shake things up,” she said.
Kessler said the plan is still to fast-track construction this year of a 50-car ferry modeled after the Steilacoom II, which has been in sea trials this week on Port Townsend Bay and Admiralty Inlet.
“I know the community has asked me for the larger boats, and my heart goes out to them, but we need something now,” she said.
The two other ferries proposed could be modeled after the Island Home used at Martha’s Vineyard, a 76-car vessel, Kessler said.
“We’re thrilled to hear it,” said Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval on Wednesday.
