PORT TOWNSEND — Washington State Ferries began running a passenger-only ferry between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island on Sunday to help make up for the loss of car-ferry service that was halted because of concerns about the system’s oldest boats.
The first round-trip sailing of the day left Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula at 3:45 p.m., ferry service spokeswoman Marta Coursey said. The last run of the day left Keystone on Whidbey Island at 9:15 p.m.
The 149-passenger Snohomish was scheduled to make 10 round trips Monday.
Cracks and corrosion found in the hulls of the state’s four oldest vessels prompted the state to pull the ferries from service late Tuesday. The emergency closure eliminated the link, which typically shuttles 1,000 cars and 350 walk-ons a day between Whidbey Island and the Olympic Peninsula.
The 80-year-old Steel Electric-class boats are the only ferries in the state’s fleet that are capable of navigating Keystone’s narrow, shallow harbor.
At the time the boats were pulled from service, only the Klickitat and the Illahee were actually running. The Quinault was taken out of service in July for repairs, and the Nisqually in September for inspection.
The ferry system was shooting to add the Port Townsend-Keystone foot ferry by Friday, but it was delayed by the need to adjust a dock for it to moor, and to train a crew.
The Snohomish had been out of service since 2003, when it was pulled off the Seattle-Bremerton route. It had been tied up at Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island since then, said Pete Williams, port captain for Washington State Ferries.
The Snohomish’s top speed is 38 knots, Williams said, but the ferry will make the Port Townsend-Keyport crossing at 22 knots to save fuel. Even at the reduced speed, The boat makes the trip about 10 minutes faster than the car ferry.
The Snohomish will run on the same schedule as the car ferry did.
Until a car ferry returns, free parking is available on the docks on both sides of the crossing.
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