MUKILTEO – A week after the Cathlamet crashed into the Mukilteo ferry terminal, destroying part of a dock, the ferry on Friday evening was back again plying the waters of Puget Sound.
Washington State Ferries spent about $180,000 repairing the boat and plans to spend another $700,000 replacing the portion of the terminal the Cathlamet tore apart, according to spokeswoman Susan Harris-Huether.
The cause of the crash, which tossed passengers to the deck, is still under investigation.
The Cathlamet’s crew tested negative for drug and alcohol use, but the captain is scheduled to remain on administrative leave until an internal investigation is complete, Harris-Huether said.
Workers at Vigor Marine in Everett spent eight days working virtually nonstop repairing the vessel, said Joe O’Rourke, senior vice president of business development for the Vigor Companies. They replaced a 15-by-4-foot section of the hull that was punctured in the crash and also replaced 15 feet of guardrail, Harris-Huether said.
Seven steel frames that support the hull were twisted out of shape and needed to be straightened.
“It’s just like with your car,” O’Rourke said. The crash has “basically taken the metal out of its original shape. Repairs sometimes (involve) cutting steel and replacing them; sometimes working with metal to bend and hammer it into its original position.”
Vigor Marine only repaired damage the ferry sustained in the crash and did not fix any mechanical problems.
“Had there been a mechanical problem with the boat, we probably would have repaired that, but at this point in time, nothing points to that,” Harris-Huether said, stressing that investigation is ongoing.
The ferry took to Puget Sound Friday evening for a test run.
While the Cathlamet was being repaired, ferries were shuffled around and routes throughout Washington were disrupted.
Next week, the portion of the terminal destroyed in the crash is scheduled to be replaced with a temporary fix. Another “dolphin” – a wood structure that guides boats to the dock – is expected to be installed later this summer.
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