The Tokitae made its return to the Clinton-to-Mukilteo ferry route Sunday after a nearly two-month absence.

Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division, announced the return around 5 p.m. Jan. 24.

The state’s newest ferry, a 144-car Olympic-class vessel, has been off the state’s busiest route since November. It was pulled from service for annual maintenance around Thanksgiving, then reassigned to the Edmonds-to-Kingston route for a couple of weeks to replace the larger, 188-car Walla Walla which needed maintenance and United States Coast Guard inspections.

The Tokitae was replaced by the Kitsap, joining the Kittitas, both 124-vehicle ferries. The Kitsap was sent to the state’s maintenance facility at Eagle Harbor until February when it will service the Seattle-to-Bremerton route. The 124-vehicle Issaquah also most recently serviced the route and was assigned to the Fauntleroy/Vashon Island/Southworth route, a three-vessel route.

A ferries spokesman said earlier this month the Tokitae would return to the Clinton route the week of Jan. 25.