UPDATE | Ferry Kaleetan moved to Bainbridge route

Published 9:50 pm Thursday, October 6, 2016

The ferry M/V Kaleetan has been put into service on the Bainbridge Island-Seattle ferry route to replace the M/V Wenatchee, which was damaged Thursday afternoon while pulling into the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal.

Washington State Ferries is advising travelers on the route to expect delays, or use alternative routes.

WSF is also warning travelers that the Kaleetan carries about 58 fewer vehicles than the Wenatchee, a Jumbo Mark II Class ferry that can carry 202 vehicles and 2,499 passengers.

The Wenatchee was pulling into the Bainbridge terminal Thursday afternoon at the end of the 12:20 p.m. sailing from Seattle when the ship lost control of its propulsion system and struck the dock.

The vessel struck the dock on the No. 1 end of the boat.

No one was hurt aboard the ferry, which was immediately pulled from service on the two-ferry Bainbridge run.

The Wenatchee will be out of service until further notice, according to WSF, though officials said it may be out for approximately one week.

WSF shifted vessels around its system to restore the Bainbridge route to two-boat service late Thursday.

The M/V Tillikum went into service starting with the 4:35 p.m. departure from Bainbridge; it was the first time the Tillikum has been used on the Bainbridge route since 1968.

WSF announced the Kaleetan would be put on the Bainbridge run just after 8 p.m. Thursday.