FOLLOWUP: Barge arrives for crash-damage repairs at Fauntleroy ferry terminal

(Photo sent by Mardi Clements)

Thanks for the tips. Almost two months after the ferry Cathlamet crashed into an offshore component of the Fauntleroy ferry dock known as a “dolphin,” repairs are starting. After getting word that this crane had arrived off the terminal early this morning, we asked Washington State Ferries spokesperson Ian Sterling about it. His reply:

This is the barge that does annual maintenance work on most of our terminals. It was in Vashon last week and prior to that in Bremerton. The contractor is American Construction and in Fauntleroy they are to do not only annual maintenance, but to proceed with first temporary and then later permanent repairs to the left outer dolphin. They intend to start the demolition of the damaged piles and remove the concrete pile cap. New piles and a new cap are expected to be installed at a later date this fall/winter. They will also be doing regular maintenance and repairs not related to the Cathlamet. These include repair to the right outer dolphin and replacing rub timbers on both wingwalls. Work is expected to take about a week and it’s not expected to have much impact to the traveling public.

The Cathlamet, meantime, is undergoing repairs at a drydock in Everett.

7 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Barge arrives for crash-damage repairs at Fauntleroy ferry terminal"

  • Buzz September 19, 2022 (11:39 am)

    That must explain the helicopters hoovering over the area for the last half hour.

    • WSB September 19, 2022 (11:42 am)

      There is one helicopter, the shared TV helicopter, which arrived a short time ago.

    • Flo B September 19, 2022 (12:28 pm)

      Choppers were here anyway covering the high bridge.

      • WSB September 19, 2022 (12:54 pm)

        There was one helicopter – all the TV stations share one now – and it was first getting the Fauntleroy video, then moved over to the bridge for the top of the 11 am newscast. (We have their frequency in our scanner.)

  • Bill September 19, 2022 (12:02 pm)

    Is there any update into the investigation of the cause of the accident?

    • flimflam September 19, 2022 (1:20 pm)

      Was wondering that myself. It doesn’t seem like it’d be that difficult to figure it out.

      • broken dolphin September 29, 2022 (4:22 pm)

        True.  They did tell us it wasn’t crew impairment.  What’s left?  Mechanical failure?  Human error?  The first would have been ruled out immediately.  With an experienced crew it’s hard to imagine human error as drastic as this incident required.  Perhaps it was mechanical, a maintenance oversight. Something the “investigators” are reluctant to reveal.

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