Major accident could disable ferry for years

A major electrical accident on board the Washington state ferry M/V Walla Walla could have easily killed someone and could disable the ship for years.

A massive charge of electricity accidentally entered a motor under maintenance while the vessel was docked at the WSF maintenance facility in Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island, KING 5 reports.

The accident reportedly melted huge chunks of steel and copper, and blasted through a part of the motor that provides the power to turn the shaft and propellers.

While no one was injured, an expert source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the accident was unprecedented and people could have easily died.

“In all my years in the maritime industry I’ve never seen anything like this. It sent chills up my spine because of the potential to kill somebody. I can’t put enough emphasis on how close they came to killing someone,” the source told KING 5.

The source said the damage looked much like an explosion. “It has chunks blown out that look like someone took an ice cream scoop and scooped it out.”

The vessel is one of the largest in the fleet. It has been out of service for several months while undergoing maintenance.

Sources said WSF has a spare part that could potentially replace the portion of the motor damaged in the accident. If testing shows it can be used, the Walla Walla would most likely be out of service for four to six additional months. If a new commutator has to be built, the Walla Walla could be out of service for up to two years.

A spokesperson said a full investigation is underway and would neither confirm nor deny that proper safety protocols were not in place prior to the event. Two sources tell KING 5 human error is likely to blame.

The Walla Walla is used as a relief vessel in the system on the Seattle/Bremerton or Edmonds/Kingston run.

Ferry managers said they hope to avoid any service interruptions while the ferry is repaired.

KIRO Radio editor Karen Taylor contributed to this report.