The ferry Samish is expected to be out of dry dock at Dakota Creek Industries this week and ready for tests before resuming duty in the state ferry system.
Eight months after the ferry Samish's inaugural run, a quarter-sized hole was found on February 14 beneath the waterline in the ferry's hull. Once in dry dock, engineers discovered localized corrosion along the keel.
The Samish entered service on June 14, 2015, on the Anacortes-to-Friday Harbor run.
The Samish is one of three new Olympic class, 144-vehicle ferries that have been planned to replace Evergreen State class ferries, build in the 1950’s.
Since the Samish was pulled from service, the Kitsap has been on the Anacortes run, but it has 20 fewer car spaces than the Samish. Meanwhile, on March 9, the Yakima, also in service in the San Juan islands, was replaced by the Kaleetan.