For the second time in less than a week, steering problems forced the ferry M/V Kittitas out of service on the Clinton-Mukilteo run.

This time the disruption during the past weekend lasted more than eight hours, resulting in two- to three-hour waits during peak travel times, Laura Johnson, Washington State Ferries spokeswoman, said Monday.

The Kittitas was taken out of service at 4 p.m. Saturday, and didn’t return until early Sunday morning, Johnson said.

“It had mechanical steering issues,” Johnson said.

She said the vessel was fully loaded with vehicles at Clinton when the steering problems were discovered. The vehicles had to be off-loaded backwards, which took nearly an hour, she said.

The ferry M/V Cathlamet continued hourly sailings between Mukilteo and Clinton during the disruption, Johnson said.

Repairs to the Kittitas were made at the Clinton dock, she said.

Steering problems also forced the Kittitas out of service on Monday,

Sept. 13, for about an hour, beginning at 7 p.m.