Pierce County Ferry service is expected to resume in the early evening Feb. 29 once the M/V Christine Anderson is cleared to take over the remaining runs of the day.
Ferry service has been down since 5:45 a.m. Feb. 29 after the system’s other ferry, the M/V Steilacoom II, experienced electrical issues as it departed Steilacoom for the first run of the day.
The M/V Christine Anderson has been out of service while repair work was completed to its water cooling pipes. The repairs passed a United States Coast Guard inspection mid-morning Feb. 29, and the ferry will undergo operational and safety testing in the afternoon.
The public should expect to see the M/V Christine Anderson landing at Steilacoom and Anderson Island during the testing, though the ferry is not able to carry passengers until the sea trial is complete.
The M/V Steilacoom II lost steering controls on one engine as it departed this morning. The ferry returned to the dock, where crews found damage to the steering electrical panel. Repair technicians arrived onsite around 9:30 a.m. to assess the damage.
A tug boat has been called in to move the M/V Steilacoom II into the lay berth to complete electrical repair work.
Ferry riders should visit www.piercecountywa.org/ferry for updates about service restoration. Pierce County will also send Pierce County Ferry Rider Alerts to subscribers. Ferry riders can sign up to have these alerts sent as emails or text messages.
The Pierce County Ferry provides service between the town of Steilacoom and Anderson and Ketron islands.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Deb Wallace, Public Works airport and ferry administrator
(253) 798-7109
[email protected]
Anne Radford, Public Works public information officer
(253) 798-2464
[email protected]