SEATTLE - Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division will continue to operate the 90-car Sealth on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route through the end of next week while the 144- Elwha remains out of service for repairs. The Elwha was taken out of service Wednesday, Aug. 6 because of a problem with the propulsion control cooling system; it is currently at WSDOT's Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility (EHMF) undergoing repairs. The Sealth, which had been on standby at EHMF, has been operating on the San Juan Islands route since Wednesday night.

"Our maintenance staff is working overtime this weekend to repair the Elwha and troubleshoot the problem so that we can get this ferry back in service as soon as possible," said David Moseley, Assistant Secretary, Ferries Division. "We know that August is an awful time for this to happen in the San Juan Islands and we are working to minimize the impact as much as we can."

Because the Sealth holds fewer cars than the Elwha, customers are encouraged to arrive early and expect more overloads. The San Juan County Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 13 - Saturday, Aug. 16. During this time, WSDOT expects heavier than normal traffic volumes traveling between Anacortes and Friday Harbor. For updated schedule and service information please visit the WSDOT Ferries Division Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/service.