Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry loses power on crossing, towed to dock
SEATTLE -- The Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry lost power in the Puget Sound Tuesday and had to be towed to Bainbridge Eagle Harbor, where all passengers and vehicles were off-loaded and were safe, Washington State Ferries said.
PHOTO GALLERY: PASSENGERS CHRONICLE TOWING OF WASHINGTON STATE FERRY TACOMA
According to the Washington State Department of Transporation and numerous tweets, the ferry M/V Tacoma lost propulsion around 1 p.m. A different ferry, the M/V Stealth that was headed to Bremerton changed course and moved to support the M/V Tacoma as it neared the Bainbridge Island shore.
Tugboats towed the Tacoma and it was docked at Bainbridge Eagle Harbor. Everyone on board was given a voucher for a free trip later.
Ferry service to Bainbridge Island was suspended while the situation was ongoing, WSDOT officials said.
The first Walla Walla run was tentatively scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Bainbridge and Bremerton ferries from and to Seattle were expected to suffer delays throughout the afternoon.
It was not known what caused the Tacoma, a 460-foot passenger ferry that can hold as many as 2,500 people and 202 vehicles, to lose power.
The ferry reached the dock just after 3 p.m. where passengers were allowed to disembark safely.
Click here for more information on the Tacoma.