The 90-vehicle, 1,200-passenger Sealth will be lifted out of the water and onto dry-dock at Dakota Creek Industries on Monday to investigate issues found during sea trials and diver inspection.
The Sealth was removed from service on the San Juan Islands/Anacortes route on Feb. 12, due to mechanical issues. Crews have made several repairs to the steering system, but have been unable to return the vessel to service.
“We’ve been working day and night to determine the cause of Sealth’s recent mechanical issues,” said David Moseley, WSDOT assistant secretary, ferries division. “Underwater video and sea trials suggest the problem could be with the rudder system beneath the vessel, requiring us to move the vessel to dry-dock for further investigation.”
Washington State Ferries expects to re-instate the Sealth, following dry-dock inspection and necessary repairs.
WSF has temporarily replaced the Sealth with the 87-car, 983-passenger Evergreen State. The system’s only back-up vessel, 34-car, 200-passenger Hiyu is filling in on the inter-island route. WSF is in the process of moving other boats within the system and anticipates that the San Juan Islands/Anacortes route will be back to full service on Tuesday, March 4, with the 124-car, 1,090-passenger Chelan operating on domestic routes and the Evergreen State returning to the inter-island route.