Walla Walla repaired, returns to Kingston route Saturday

SATURDAY UPDATE: Repairs were made to the ferry Walla Walla on Friday night and the Kingston route was returned to two-boat service Saturday morning, according to a bulletin from Washington State Ferries.

5:30 p.m. UPDATE: More work is needed on the Walla Walla's steering system and the Kingston route will operate with one boat Friday evening, according to a Washington State Ferries bulletin. The 9:10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. departures from Kingston, and the 9:50 p.m. and 11:10 p.m. departures from Edmonds have been cancelled.

12:50 p.m. UPDATE: Engineers have repaired the Walla Walla, according to a bulletin from Washington State Ferries. The Walla Walla will resume service with a 1:30 p.m. departure from Kingston.

The Kingston to Edmonds ferry route was reduced to one-boat service Friday morning, while Washington State Ferries crews examined problems with the steering system on the Walla Walla.

The Puyallup is operating a limited schedule on the route, according to a bulletin from Washington State Ferries.

State Ferries reported a two-hour wait time for motorists at the Edmonds terminal 9:50 a.m.

If the repairs sideline the Walla Walla for longer than 24 hours, State Ferries could replace it with a boat from the San Juan Island, Fauntleroy or Bremerton routes. Ferries spokeswoman Joy Goldenberg said the agency is waiting on information from its engineers before deciding how to proceed.

Check back for updates.

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