Washington State Department of Transportation - NEWS Ferries Division - 2901 Third Ave., Suite 500 - Seattle, WA 98121-3014 - 206-515-3400 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 9, 2012 Contact: Marta Coursey, WSF director of communications, 206-515-3918 (Seattle) Engine damage knocks ferry out of service indefinitely 188-car ferry Walla Walla one of the largest in the fleet BAINBRIDGE ISLAND - A failure in one of the drive motors on the 188-car ferry, Walla Walla, has left parts of the ferry near the engine melted and charred, and the vessel is inoperable and out of service indefinitely. The incident happened while the vessel was in for routine, regularly scheduled maintenance work on Sunday, Nov. 4. This includes inspection of electrical drive motors, overhauling the boiler and pre-checks for U.S. Coast Guard annual inspections. The Walla Walla will be out of service for at least the next few months while crews work to repair the vessel. The drive motor that was damaged is one of four motors that turn the propellers. Immediately following the incident, the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division started an internal investigation per standard protocol. Preliminary findings indicate that there was no explosion. "This is a serious incident and we're going to do a very thorough and detailed investigation into what happened," said David Moseley, WSDOT assistant secretary, ferries division. "We hope to return the vessel to service as soon as possible." Due to the severity of the damage, the investigation has been elevated to a third party contractor, Cadick Corporation. They will be assisted by WSDOT ferries division's senior port engineers, safety systems managers, and electrical engineers. WSDOT has also reached out to the Department of Labor and Industries and the U.S. Coast Guard for assistance to ensure that all employee safety requirements were met. Detailed results of the investigation are expected within two to three weeks. In an effort to repair the Walla Walla, WSDOT is working with the engine manufacturer to see if it's possible to use a spare drive motor that WSDOT already owns and has in a warehouse. If the spare motor will work, WSDOT hopes to move it to the manufacturer's shop by the end of next week. Ferry vessels will be shifted throughout the system in an effort to maintain service for passengers while the Walla Walla is unavailable. Customers can keep up to date on vessel changes by signing up for route email alerts. Hyperlinks within the news release: ? Email alerts: https://secure1.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/account/index.cfm?type=Alerts ### WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 511. To unsubscribe to WSDOT media releases please reply and type REMOVE in the subject line.