Professor John Robertson OBA

From the Kiro Seattle yesterday:

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSP) announced it was investigating damage to a propeller on one of its ferries that serves the Seattle/Bremerton route. The Walla Walla, which is one of two ferries on the route, had its propeller blades completely sheared off. WSP says that they will make repairs in the next few weeks, but until then, the ferry will be dry-docked. Until the repairs are made, the route will sail on 1-boat service.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/traffic-and-transportation-incidents/walla-walla-ferry-is-docked-after-propeller-damage-discovered/ar-AA1TwHMg?ocid=BingNewsVerp

The MV Walla Walla launched in 1972 has run aground with 600 passengers on board twice, in 1981 and in 2023 In 2012/13 she was in dock for 6 months after engine damage during scheduled maintenance. Her open bow is prone to flooding of the car deck.

Washington State Ferries run three even older vessels.

CalMac‘s oldest large comparable ferry is the 43 year-old MV Isle of Arran.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Walla_Walla