On Jan. 13, Washington State Ferries (WSF) Division Secretary David Moseley  reported that the recent change in ferry assignments is due to mechanical problems that are now being repaired.

“On Jan. 6, the 144-car Yakima was towed from Anacortes to WSF’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility for repairs to a thrust bearing. We are working hard to fix the problem and estimate that the Yakima will return to service mid to late next week.

“The 64-car Chetzemoka, which had been in standby status, began serving as the San Juan Islands inter-island vessel Monday, Jan. 9. The 87-car Evergreen State, 90-car Sealth, and 144-car Elwha are currently serving as the mainland vessels.

“I recognize that we are experiencing delays of approximately 20-60 minutes since the Evergreen State is a slower vessel than the Yakima and we are committed to providing regular updates to customers via email alerts.

“I appreciate your patience while this repair is under way and I want to thank all involved for moving quickly to return the Yakima to service.”