Date:
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Contact:
Susan Harris-Huether, Senior Programs Manager, 206-515-3460
Marta Coursey, Communications Director, 206-515-3918
SEATTLE – To complete planned vessel maintenance and inspections the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division will make service adjustments on the Seattle/Bremerton and Edmonds/Kingston routes starting the third week of December. These vessel moves are necessary to fulfill maintenance needs throughout the fleet.
Upcoming planned service changes
Seattle/Bremerton
The 124-car Kitsap will return to the Seattle/Bremerton route starting the third week of December, this will restore the route to its regular capacity and will free the 144-car Hyak to serve on the Edmonds/Kingston route while 188-car Spokane and 188-car Walla Walla rotate out of service for routine maintenance.
Edmonds/Kingston
The Hyak will move to the Edmonds/Kingston route starting the third week of December, when the 188-car Spokane is scheduled to be out of service for routine maintenance. This is a service reduction of 44 vehicles compared to the route’s normal fall/winter capacity. The Hyak will operate on this route for approximately three weeks while the Spokane and Walla Walla rotate out of service for routine maintenance.
What to Expect
Customers can expect longer wait times and increased passenger traffic during busy commute periods while smaller ferries are on these routes.
With no backup vessels in the ferry system, WSDOT must plan vessel moves to accommodate maintenance needs while minimizing disruptions to customers. This becomes especially difficult during the fall/winter maintenance season, when more vessels must be removed from service for annual maintenance and inspections.
For more ferry system information, please visit the WSDOT Ferries Division Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries. To sign up for free e-mail alerts about service disruptions and other route information, click on the link in the far left column of the Web site. Customers can review the plan for vessel maintenance and dry-docking by visiting www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/service.
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