WENATCHEE WSF

General information

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Latest news

Chief died during watch on board

The "Wenatchee's" chief engineer, Sean Wall, who had been a longtime employee with Washington State Ferries, died on the vessel on May 29, 2019. He experienced some kind of a health emergency while on watch at 11:30 a.m. The crew and first responders were unable to revive him. Wall had been with Washington State Ferries for nearly 35 years. The "Wenatchee" missed mid-day sailings and held at Bainbridge Island while crews responded to the emergency on the vessel.

Dock damaged after medical emergency of captain

The Washington State Ferries suspended service on the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route in the night of Dec 24, 2016, after the captain had a medical emergency just moments before the vessel was about to depart the terminal in Defiance. The captain collapsed, hitting the docked ferry’s control panel as he fell, causing the ferry to lurch. The crew immediately regained control of the ship, but not before it damaged the dock. They used an onboard defibrillator on the captain and then, because of the damage to the dock, used one of the ferry’s rescue boats to get him to the beach, where he was met by emergency responders. WSF were working to find a replacement captain, but the ferry route would be suspended indefinitely, until repairs are made to the dock.. Maintenance crews have been dispatched to assess the damage. In the morning of Dec 25, the Washington State Ferries advises alternate routes to and from Vashon Island until further notice.

Logs damaged propeller

The "Wenatchee" sustained damage in the evening of Oct 17, 2016, on its scheduled voyage between Bainbridge Island and Seattle, Washington. She sruck at least three logs, bending propeller blades and causing vibrations. It was unable to begin service in the morning of Oct 17, leaving the "Tacoma" alone on the route. By afternoon, the 188-car ferry "Walla Walla" shifted from the Bremerton-Seattle route to Bainbridge; the 124-car "Kittitas" moved to Bremerton from Mukilteo-Clinton; the 64-car ferry "Kennewick", which was on standby, went to Mukilteo. After the shifting, Bremerton was operating with its normal capacity for this time of year. Engineers were determining whether the "Wenatchee"’s propeller could be repaired or must be replaced, and whether it will have to go into dry dock. Report with photos: http://komonews.com/news/local/delay-alert-seattle-to-bainbridge-down-to-one-ferry