“Cathlamet malfunctions, pushed to dock by Navy”

Published 4:00 pm Saturday, July 22, 2000

“Photo: A U.S. Navy tugboat pushes the Cathlamet into the Clinton dock on Wednesday.Jim Larsen/staff photoThe most dependable boat in the fleet finally malfunctioned Wednesday, an unexpected failure which forced ferry users to waste hundreds of hours waiting in long lines in Mukilteo and Clinton.The Cathlamet experienced a propulsion system problem at about 11:30 a.m., said Susan Harris-Heuther, ferry system spokesperson. They couldn’t get into the Clinton dock, she said. They were uncomfortable, not feeling secure with the power plant.The Cathlamet, whose chief engineer is Fran Mulcahy, is perhaps the most dependable boat in the ferry fleet. That boat hasn’t missed any trips in years, Harris-Huether said.People aboard the Cathlamet when the problem occurred spent about 90 minutes on the ferry until a Navy tug from the Everett base offered assistance and pushed the big ferry back into the dock at Clinton.There was one-boat service on the busy route until the Quinault arrived from the Port Townsend-Keystone route at 6:15 p.m. The ferry line in Mukilteo was reportedly all the way back to the Taco Bell area. The Cathlamet was able to return to service at 7:30 p.m.The Cathlamet’s predicament wasn’t the only unusual ferry-related sight in Clinton this week. Privately owned passenger ferries have been testing the docking facilities in Clinton and Mukilteo. A private boat will be hired to carry foot passengers between Mukilteo and Clinton when construction work on the Mukilteo dock begins in November or December.We’re testing everything, said Harris-Huether, noting that boats named the Clipper, Argosy, Tyee and Mosquito Fleet will test the facilities. In Clinton, the boat will load passengers at the Port of South Whidbey’s dock, which is next to the ferry dock. In Mukilteo, the Port of Everett’s dock in front of Ivar’s will be used. Both docks will need work to accommodate whichever boat is chosen to provide the service.Harris-Huether said the passenger ferry tests are being paid for by the companies rather than the ferry system. It’s a bid process, she said. They’re doing it because they want the contract.The Mukilteo dock work will force the car ferries to use the Edmonds dock from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. During those hours, the passenger boat will operate between Clinton and Mukilteo. Construction was originally planned to begin in September or October, but it’s been postponed due to delays in receiving environmental permits. Now it’s likely November or December, Harris-Huether said. The job is expected to take approximately three months to complete.”