Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Wsf-Wenatchee

On January 21, 2026, the 'Wenatchee' ferry was forced out of service on its route between Seattle and Bainbridge Island after experiencing engine complications stemming from a log impact. This unfortunate incident led to cancellations for all scheduled sailings, including the 11:25 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8:15 p.m., and 10:05 p.m. departures from Seattle, alongside the 12:20 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 5:35 p.m., 7:20 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. sailings from Bainbridge Island. Passengers were advised of the disruption which reduced the service to a single vessel, the 'Tacoma', until repairs to the 'Wenatchee' can be completed and full operations restored.

The 'Wenatchee' ferry has been temporarily removed from the Seattle to Bainbridge service as a result of a mechanical malfunction associated with one of its electrical subsystems. This issue came to light on October 29, 2025, prompting immediate action. The vessel is currently docked in Seattle for essential repairs. Dedicated engine crew members and maintenance teams are actively engaged in the process of removing and replacing the faulty equipment, which fortunately remains under warranty. While the ferry is expected to rejoin its regular schedule shortly, as of November 4, it remains inoperative at the port.

On August 15, 2025, the 'Wenatchee', a ferry operating between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, faced a mechanical setback shortly after 10 a.m. while docking at Seattle's Colman Dock. The vessel encountered difficulties with two of its four drive motors, necessitating its removal from service. This marked a significant moment for the 'Wenatchee', which had only recently returned to the fleet in July after undergoing a 22-month transformation to a hybrid-electric propulsion system at Vigor Marine's Seattle shipyard. It is important to note that the issues were not connected to the new hybrid-electric system. Instead, the mechanical problems stemmed from the extended absence of the vessel from its operational duties, as well as the challenges encountered during its recent re-commissioning. Following the incident, the ferry was relocated to Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island for comprehensive inspections. Preliminary assessments suggest that the problems might be associated with the control system communication wires, which could have led to unreliable signaling and intermittent instability. Washington State Ferries (WSF) technicians are diligently investigating these control wires to rectify the issue and restore the 'Wenatchee' to service. Despite the 'Wenatchee's' unexpected downtime, ferry services remained uninterrupted, with the 'Walla Walla' and 'Tacoma' stepping in to accommodate passengers on the busy route.

On August 15, 2023, just weeks after resuming operations on the Seattle to Bainbridge Island route on July 24, the ferry 'Wenatchee' encountered a significant mechanical issue, leading to an unexpected loss of power. While this incident has resulted in the ferry being temporarily pulled from service, Washington State Ferries has indicated that overall sailing schedules have not been disrupted. The vessel is currently docked at the Eagle Harbour maintenance facility, located close to the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal, as teams work to determine the cause of the malfunction.

A fire on the 'Wenatchee', which occurred on April 22, 2021, during sea trials near Bainbridge Island, Washington, has been attributed to a faulty fastener, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident resulted in over $3.8 million in damages but fortunately did not injure any of the 13 crew members aboard. The NTSB's investigation determined that the fire in the engine room was sparked by the failure of a connecting rod assembly in the No. 3 main engine. This mechanical breakdown was linked to an inadequate tightening of a lower basket bolt during prior maintenance activities that began in November 2020. During these maintenance sessions, factory-trained technicians overhauled two of the vessel's four main diesel engines. In February 2021, issues arose after the overhaul when alarms activated on the No. 3 main engine, leading crew members to discover remnants of a cigarette lighter within the lube oil system. Maintenance crews worked diligently, draining the oil and recovering approximately 70% of the lighter's components over a two-day span, ultimately deeming the engine safe to run. However, the engines remained idle until the vessel was set to embark on the sea trial in April. During this trial, the previously identified mechanical failure occurred, resulting in components being forcefully ejected from the engine, which breached the crankcase and ignited hot pressurized gases within the engine room. In a commendable response, the crew acted quickly to contain the blaze by shutting off the fuel supply and ventilation and isolating the area. While engineers examined the lube oil system for potential links between the lighter parts and engine failure, they found no evidence to support the lighter causing the fire. The NTSB advised that this incident serves as a stark reminder for maintenance technicians to adhere strictly to using calibrated torque wrenches and comply with manufacturer's torque specifications to prevent such failures in the future.

A detailed report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), released on March 15, 2022, has identified a loose bolt as the ignition point for an engine fire aboard the ferry 'Wenatchee' on April 22, 2021. The incident occurred during a test sailing following various repairs, yet fortunately resulted in no injuries. The fire, however, inflicted significant damage estimated at $3.8 million and grounded the 'Wenatchee' for nine months. This extended downtime led to crew shortages and a disruption in trips across Puget Sound. According to the NTSB report, the fire began when an oiler spotted white smoke emerging from the engine room as the vessel was operating at full power towards Eagle Harbor. Another crew member reported flames, smoke, and debris swirling around. The captain noted the dense black smoke pouring from the ship’s stack. Subsequent investigations by engineers revealed a disturbing scene, with large engine components like a rod and piston scattered on the floor of the engine room. Forensic analysis uncovered two broken bolts, and one was found to have come loose while the engine was operational. These bolts were expected to be torqued to 75 foot-pounds. Engineers confirmed that the insufficiently tightened nut caused misalignment of components, leading to a catastrophic loss of lubrication and a buildup of hot gases that culminated in an explosion. In a swift response, the crew sealed all entrances and ventilation systems in the vicinity to cut off the fire’s fuel and oxygen supply. Five crew members equipped with firefighting gear effectively managed the situation without the need for water or carbon dioxide. The vessel, operated by a Seattle-based marine contractor, successfully returned to service on the Bainbridge Island-Seattle route in late January following extensive repairs. A claim regarding the damages has been submitted to the state’s insurer, according to officials. For further details, the full NTSB report can be accessed here: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2206.pdf

In a setback for Washington State Ferries (WSF), the 'Wenatchee' is likely to remain out of commission for several months following a recent engine failure that ignited a fire during a sea trial out of Seattle. With limited backup vessels available, WSF is gearing up to rearrange its fleet starting May 13, 2021. This operational shift will result in reduced capacity on several ferry routes. For instance, the bustling Seattle-Bainbridge Island route will now be serviced by the 120-car ferry 'Issaquah', typically assigned to the Vashon-Fauntleroy-Southworth route, which was anticipated to return to three-boat service next week. The triangle route linking those islands will instead operate with a lower-capacity ferry, complicating transit for commuters. Additionally, the Port Townsend-Coupeville service will face a delay in regaining its two-boat operation for at least another month. The Mukilteo-Clinton route will be understaffed with a smaller vessel for most of the summer, while one of the Seattle-Bremerton ferries will be restricted to only 64-car capacity and a slowed schedule, leading to the cancellation of a crucial midday round trip.