Just as more people travel again, state ferry service on five runs is about to take a hit.
The large ferry Wenatchee could be out of service for months after a newly rebuilt engine failed and started a fire during a sea trial.
With few backup options, Washington State Ferries plans to shuffle boats starting May 13, which means smaller-capacity boats on several runs.
“When you lose one of your superstars, this is one of the state’s largest ferries, there’s going to be a trickle-down effect,” said WSF spokesman Ian Sterling.
Instead of a 202-car boat, the Seattle-Bainbridge Island run will get a smaller ferry, possibly the 120-car Issaquah.
The Issaquah is now on the Vashon-Fauntleroy-Southworth run, which was supposed to see three-boat service restored next week.
Instead, for at least a month, the triangle route will get a downgrade with a smaller capacity ferry as one of its two boats.
The Port Townsend-Coupeville run will have to wait another month for the restoration of the two-boat service.
Mukilteo-Clinton will get a smaller boat for most of the summer, and one of the Seattle-Bremerton boats will only carry 64 cars and go slower, canceling a midday round trip.
For about a decade, the state built no new ferries.
In the last two years, it retired two worn-out old boats because of high maintenance costs.
“We’re right on the cusp now. We’re able to keep these routes open, but it is very, very challenging,” Sterling said.
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