PORT TOWNSEND — The North Olympic Peninsula’s ferry connection to Whidbey Island was out of service most of Thursday, and at least one Port Townsend advocate for water transportation sees it as a clear message:
“It just shows the fragility of our link to the island,” said Tim Caldwell, former Chamber of Commerce manager. He is chairman of the Jefferson County Ferry Advisory Committee to Washington State Ferries.
The MV Steilacoom II was taken out of service for repairs just before its 11:15 a.m. Thursday departure from Port Townsend for Keystone on Whidbey Island, and was back in service for the 6:45 p.m. sailing.
The electrical control unit in the auxiliary generator was replaced in the 50-car ferry, said Hadley Greene, Washington State Ferries spokeswoman.
“State Ferries is doing the best they can, but I think this sends the message that the Edmonds-Port Townsend ferry is good for the [Hood Canal] Bridge mitigation and it would be good if we had some backup right now,” Caldwell said earlier in the day.
He has pushed for a temporary car and commercial truck ferry between Edmonds and Port Townsend during the six-week May-June 2009 closure of the Hood Canal Bridge while its eastern half is replaced.
Ferries officials are doubtful of the idea, but say they are considering it.
Caldwell said David Moseley, state deputy Transportation director for ferries, phoned him to tell him of the problem and promised that ferry service would be restored at least by today.
“Still, this gives us a louder message that bridge mitigation needs more than just the Steilacoom,” Caldwell said.
Greene said the faulty equipment was discovered at about 11 a.m. during a routine inspection of the ferry in Port Townsend.
When the problem was discovered, it was determined that it would be unsafe to take the boat back out to sea.
“The reports do not show that this had anything to do with wear and tear from operation of the vessel,” Green said.
“It’s a problem with the generator.”
While the ferry was out of service, the state ferries service had no replacement for it, suggesting visitors take alternate routes at the Mukilteo to Clinton crossing and the Edmonds to Kingston crossing.
