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Report: Grounding was caused by bacterial and fungal growth in the diesel storage tanks

The grounding of the 'Walla Walla' on April 15, 2023, in the Rich Passage on its way to Seattle from Bremerton, was the result of bacterial and fungal growth in the diesel storage tanks, according to a report from Washington State Ferries. Excessive air crept inside the two-day tank, which feeds into the ferry’s fuel manifold. When combined with moisture inside the tank, a black sludge formed at the bottom. That sludge broke free, overwhelming the ship’s fuel filters, killing power to the generators and disabling the Walla Walla’s steering.Ferry officials announced last spring that the boat’s malfunctioning was due to fuel contamination but didn’t specify the source of that contamination. The latest report makes clear it became dirty while onboard. As the ferry entered Rich Passage on April 15 near the south end of Bainbridge, alarms started going off in both the pilothouse and the engine room. Crews unsuccessfully tried to manually restart the generators. By 4:35 p.m., the captain ordered the anchor dropped and warned passengers to brace for impact. The ship gently beached near Lynwood Center on Bainbridge, and no one was hurt. The report concluded that the ship’s crew acted appropriately and were not at fault. Passengers remained onboard until just before 10 p.m., when a Kitsap Transit passenger ferry took them back to Bremerton.The investigators issued several recommendations, including regular sweeps of the fuel lines to find and plug air leaks. They also recommended layering on maintenance and inspection requirements of the tanks, redesigning them so water and sludge can be more easily expelled, increasing the amount of biocides added to the fuel to combat growth, and refining the process and documentation of clearing out the centrifuge that moves the diesel. Sterling said WSF is confident the issues leading to the contamination have been addressed and won’t repeat themselves.

Assessments of ferry have begun

Assessments have begun on the 'Walla Walla' after she was towed back to Bremerton and 175 vehicles removed from the vessel in the morning of April 16. No injuries were reported in association with the grounding, but personnel responded to three medical emergencies onboard the vessel. Following the grounding, crews went aboard so that fire and medical personnel would be available in case of any issues, and they transferred those patients to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard in turn took those patients to Bremerton, where they were received by fire and EMS personnel. They were transported in stable condition. Preliminary dives did not find any serious damage. All signs pointed towards a mechanical failure. Report with photos: https://eu.kitsapsun.com/story/news/traffic/2023/04/17/ferry-walla-walla-grounding-bainbridge-island-washington-state-rich-passage/70123450007/

Ferry refloated and taken to Bremerton

After the grounding of the 'Walla Walle', the smaller ferries 'Waterman' and 'Commander', provided by Kitsap Transit, diverted to the scene and were able to pull alongside, so that passengers could transfer directly aboard. The last passengers disembarked on April 15 at around 10 p.m. They were taken to Bremerton. The ferry refloated with the rising tide in the evening with tug assistance. The tugs managed to turn the vessel around and dock it in Bremerton so cars did not have to reverse to get off. The 200 passengers with cars aboard the 'Walla Walla' were able to retrieve their vehicles at the pier in Bremerton on Apr 16. The ferry 'Issaqua' took over the service of the 'Walla Walla' while the ship undergoes surveys and repairs. Report with photo: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/passengers-retrieve-cars-stuck-on-the-wa-ferry-that-ran-aground-on-bainbridge-island/