Wenatchee returns to service following additional repairs
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 15, 2025
The hybrid electric ferry M/V Wenatchee returned to service on the Seattle/Bainbridge route Oct. 9 following additional propulsion work as part of the commissioning process.
Wenatchee had originally returned to part-time service July 18 and later to full-time service July 24 after undergoing a 22-month hybrid electric conversion. Wenatchee was removed from service three times during the summer sailing schedule on the Seattle/ Bainbridge route due to mechanical issues: July 29, Aug. 15, and Aug. 26. Washington State Ferries later learned the issues stemmed from the control system communication wires, which created intermittent instability and caused the drive motor to go offline.
Following additional repairs and sea trials, Wenatchee returned to service on Sept. 15, before being removed once more Sept. 25 for scheduled propulsion work, as part of the commissioning process. Following Wenatchee’s October return to service, M/V Kaleetan is serving in a standby capacity to maintain two-boat service on the Seattle/Bainbridge route as needed.
“The Wenatchee commissioning is reaching its conclusion in the coming weeks. Outstanding operational items have been resolved, which allowed the vessel to return to service late last week, including the propulsion system, battery storage system, and integration of both. There remain a number of minor items that will be resolved later this month,” WSF spokesperson Dana Warr said.
A public records request to WSF confirmed both the removals from service in Aug. were due to mechanical issues with the propulsion system and not the hybrid-electric conversion. Wenatchee underwent repairs and necessary sea trials before reentering service.
“We have an aging fleet and just like any mechanical piece of equipment, all are prone to mechanical issues. It’s like someone’s car. The newer the car, the less mechanical issues; the older, the more issues are addressed,” he said. “ Through planned preventive maintenance, like the work that was just performed, we can reduce mechanical issues on our ferries, including vessels that are more than 50 years old.”
WSF also hosted community meetings Oct. 14, which provided members of the public an opportunity to learn about recent ferry updates and ask questions to WSF leadership. WSF deputy secretary Steve Nevey said two major challenges WSF is currently facing include crew shortages and limited vessel availability. He credits awarding a contract to Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group for three new 160-car hybrid-electric passenger ferries, bolstering WSF’s future vessel availability, and WSF’s recruiting efforts as improving crew availability.
Nevey estimates WSF will take delivery of the first vessel in 2030, before taking additional deliveries in 2031 and 2032. WSF is also in the early stages of updating both the Seattle/ Bainbridge and Seattle/Bremerton schedules. However, the agency will need to undergo several steps before any schedule changes would go into effect, including assessing crew availability, WSF director of external relations Jenna Forty said.
Regarding linecutting concerns, WSF assistant secretary John Vezina said WSF doesn’t have the ability to enforce traffic regulations or issue citations, which falls on Washington State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement also has to see someone commit an infraction in order to issue a citation, he said.
Between Oct. 6-13, WSF completed 98.37% of 3,065 scheduled sailings systemwide. WSF reported 58 cancellations including 67% (39) due to crewing, 10% (6) due to tidal currents, and 7% (4) due to vessel-related issues.
