Quite the sight as Elwha sails into Seattle’s Lake Union
— from Washington State Ferries —
Ferry fans lined Seattle’s Lake Washington Ship Canal Monday morning to witness an unusual sight as one of our iconic ferries sailed through. Tugboats guided the 144-car Super-class Elwha from our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island to the Lake Union Drydock Company where it will undergo repairs on its deck steel. During its journey, the vessel passed through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, then under the Ballard, Fremont, and Aurora bridges, before entering Lake Union.
Dozens of people lined the sides of the large lock at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard to watch as tugboats guided Elwha through the tight canal.
With Elwha 73 feet, 2 inches wide and the large lock 80 feet wide, there were only 6 feet, 10 inches of wiggle room as the vessel passed through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.
As Elwha passed offices lining the canal in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, a crowd of people gather to watch the vessel pass under the Fremont Bridge.
There was a collective gasp at Gas Works Park as Elwha came into view, entering Lake Union with the backdrop of the Seattle skyline.
