Ferry closure set to start Feb. 25

The Ferry Wahkiakum will go out of service February 26 for as long as 10 days to go to drydock.

The drydocking was mandated by the US Coast Guard, which is requiring an inspection of the vessel. The Coast Guard has already granted Wahkiakum County an extensnion on the inspection; county officials had hoped to have the vessel in drydock while a construction project closed the Puget Island landing.

Delays in federal permits delayed the project, however, and Public Works Director Pete Ringen said the Coast Guard won't grant more extensions.

He had thought of going to drydock for as short a time as needed for the inspection, but dry dock operators strongly recommended other work be done while the vessel is on the ways, for it is difficult to work the ferry into the dry dock's schedule.

"Astoria Marine Construction has to tear down their cradle and build a custom cradle to accommodate the shape of our hull," Ringen said. "They indicate there are 17 vessels waiting for dry dock, and they cannot guarantee their facility will be available when we have the shutdown associated with the ramp construction."

Ringen said he had also checked with a shipyard in Rainier, Ore., but was unable to schedule any drydocking there.