Kitsap Transit’s fast ferry service was interrupted from Seattle to Bremerton on Saturday after the engine overheated aboard the 172-passenger Melissa Ann.
There were five passengers and crew on board when crews initially thought a fire started at about 5:50 p.m. in one of the engine rooms, according to ferry officials.
However, a spokesperson for Kitsap Transit said on Wednesday that the flow of seawater went to an engine’s heat exchanger, causing the engine to overheat; When the engine overheated, that caused coolant to come from the engine and create hot steam, which set off the temperature alarm in the engine room.
Because the engine overheated and caused steam, which appeared to look like smoke, that prompted the crew to follow their training and evacuate the vessel, officials said.
Officials said there was no fire on the vessel.
No one was injured in the incident.
After aid was requested, the passengers were transferred to the fast ferry Reliance and then taken to Bremerton on Saturday.
The U.S Coast Guard and a Seattle Fire Department crew were called to the scene to help and investigate the incident.
Kitsap Transit said it plans to repair the Melissa Ann this week and hopes to return it back to service next week.
©2021 Cox Media Group
