Replacement shaft seals coming from England, New Orleans

Wahkiakum County officials hope to have replacement shaft seals to repair the ferry Oscar B. by the end of this week.

The ferry had been out of service most of December and January to install a new generator cooling system. The ferry left a Vancouver shipyard Tuesday, January 26, apparently ready to resume service the next morning. However, the crew noticed a strange noise coming from the engine room, and upon investigation, they found that shaft seals had failed and were leaking.

Wahkiakum County Public Works Director Chuck Beyer learned that mechanics could replace the seals while the ferry was moored at the Puget Island landing, but when contacted, the seal supply company didn't have replacement seals in stock.

One seal is coming from New Orleans, county commissioners said Tuesday, and the other from England.

"We need to make sure we know what caused it (the seal failure,)" commented Commissioner Mike Backman. "It's really important we figure out what caused the situation and if it's preventable."

"The current belief is that the drydock had it blocked improperly," Commissioner Blair Brady responded. "We'll see. And hopefully the shafts didn't get bent or anything like that."

Commissioner Dan Cothren commented that he has had a lot of texts from people.

"It's not about when are the seals coming; it's about the design and that we should go after the design people and all that stuff," he said. "And you know what, I'm sorry, that's all water that's gone under the bridge. We're moving ahead.

"I understand the frustration of having to drive all the way around; yeah, it's a long trip, but we're doing what we can do . . .

"I could spend all my time answering texts, but I won't do it . . . I do answer a lot of them, but when it gets to be where it's a repeat and they're going to complain about how it was done, that's water under the bridge, and I'm not going to reply to that.

"We're trying to move ahead."