Bremerton ferry that ran aground is ready for a comeback just weeks later

Washington State Ferries says the boat that ran aground last month off Bainbridge Island will be carrying passengers again in a couple of weeks.

The passenger ferry Walla Walla lost power and steering in Rich Passage on April 15, causing it to run aground at the south end of Bainbridge Island. About 600 passengers were stranded aboard the ferry until they could be transferred off.

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The 50-year-old boat sustained minor damages to the hull, and its propeller was bent.

“Damage is pretty minimal," said Ian Sterling with the Washington State Ferries. "It's got some scratches on the hull, and the propeller is bent essentially a little bit. There is specialized machinery that can unbend a prop underwater. So the boat doesn't have to come out of water; dry docking is really expensive for something the size of the state ferry, as you can imagine.”

The cost for fixing the boat is still unknown. Sterling says the ferry will need to pass inspections and sea trials before making any voyages carrying passengers.

An investigation is still ongoing as officials look for why the boat lost power in the first place.