PORT TOWNSEND — The three-month-old MV Chetzemoka was blown onto a sandbar in 50 mph winds at Whidbey Island on Tuesday night in what one official called a “soft grounding.”
Whether the ferry, which reportedly sustained no damage, will sail today was being determined by Washington State Ferries.
Four round trips scheduled tonight were already adjusted for tidal corrections.
The vessel hit against sand and ran aground early Tuesday evening, Ferries spokeswoman Marta Coursey said.
Most passengers did not notice, and all disembarked without incident, she said.
Divers were dispatched to make sure the ferry sustained no damage from the incident, but the rest of Tuesday’s sailings between Port Townsend and Coupeville (Keystone) were canceled.
Before the Tuesday night “soft grounding,” as Coursey told KIRO-TV, State Ferries had already adjusted several sailings today because of tidal conditions at Keystone Harbor.
The 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. sailings from Port Townsend and 7:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. sailings from Coupeville are affected.
Unless idled because of Tuesday night’s grounding or weather conditions, the Chetzemoka will depart at 7:25 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. from Port Townsend and 8:05 p.m. and 9:25 p.m. from Coupeville.
Latest ferry bulletins are posted on the Washington State Ferries website at http://tinyurl.com/stateferries or by phoning 888-808-7977.
