UPDATE | Ferry Wenatchee damaged by dock strike, will be out days

Washington State Ferries said the ferry M/V Wenatchee was damaged enough by its crash into the dock in Winslow that the vessel will be pulled from service until further notice.

Washington State Ferries said the ferry M/V Wenatchee was damaged enough by its crash into the dock in Winslow that the vessel will be pulled from service until further notice.

The Wenatchee was pulling into the Bainbridge Island Ferry 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.

No one was hurt, and no damage to vehicles aboard the ferry was reported, said WSF spokesman Ian Sterling.

Sterling said the ferry was approaching the dock when the propulsion system failed. The boat was going about 2 knots when it struck the dock.

Two afternoon sailings Thursday were canceled.

Sterling said the vessel has been pulled from service and is not expected to return to the route in the immediate future.

“This isn’t a matter of a fix of a few hours; it’s going to take days,” he said.

The ferry didn’t appear to be badly damaged shortly after the impact.

“At first glance, there was no damage to the vessel or the dock,” Sterling said.

A WSF crew was deployed in a rubber raft to inspect the boat, and a closer look determined the vessel had sustained minor damage.

“It looks like there are at least cosmetic dents to it,” Sterling said.

WSF officials are discussing shifting vessels throughout the system to cover for the loss of the Wenatchee on the Bainbridge route, the state’s busiest ferry run.

Sterling said some additional capacity was currently available, and WSF would know by later Thursday what adjustments need to be made to routes because of the loss of the Wenatchee, a Jumbo Mark II Class ferry built in 1998 that can carry 202 vehicles and 2,499 passengers.

Bainbridge Island will remain with one-boat service until vessel shifts are made.