KINGSTON, Wash. — Kitsap Fast Ferry service between Kingston and Seattle is expected to resume Saturday after repairs were completed on one of the fleet’s vessels.
The Reliance, which typically serves the Bremerton-Seattle route was taken out of service Monday for engine repairs. The ferry service moved Rich Passage 1, which typically serves the Kingston route, to Bremerton to ensure two-boat service.
The M/V Finest, which is the backup vessel for Kingston, was also out of service for repairs.
Repairs on the Reliance were completed, and the boat is expected to return to service Saturday. Rich Passage 1 will return to the Kingston route.
During the closure, riders had to take bus service to Bainbridge Island and catch a Washington State Ferries vessel to Seattle from there. That bus service will continue Friday.
The M/V Enetai and M/V Commander, which are the primary vessels on the Southworth and Kingston routes, respectively, are both out of service for a failed part in the jet propulsion system.
However, repairs on the Entenai and Finest are progressing ahead of schedule, and they are expected to return to service mid-September. At that point, the Enetai will operate on the Southworth-Seattle route, and the Solano and Finest will operate the Kingston-Seattle route.
The reinstated route comes ahead of what is expected to be a busy travel weekend and could help alleviate pressure on the state ferry system. Washington State Ferries expects 300,000-plus people to ride a ferry over Labor Day weekend, which is one of the agency’s busiest time periods all year.