Grounding Incident Caused by Fungal Growth Clogging Fuel Filters on WSF Ferry

The recent grounding of the ferry Walla Walla near Bremerton, Washington was caused by bacterial and fungal growth in its fuel supply system, leading to severe fuel filter plugging and loss of power. The captain ordered the crew to drop anchor and prepare for impact when alarms indicated a loss of power. The ferry gently slid onto a soft mud bottom and sustained no damage. The crew prepared for an evacuation, but a police presence helped calm the passengers. All passengers were eventually evacuated to other ferries, and the grounded ferry was towed back to deep water for evaluation. An inspection revealed that the fuel filters were plugged with bacterial and fungal growth, which was traced back to contaminated water in the day tanks due to human error. Recommendations were made to improve operating procedures and technical supervision for priming the centrifugal separator.

The grounding of the Walla Walla ferry was caused by bacterial and fungal growth in its fuel supply system, resulting in severe fuel filter plugging and loss of power. The captain ordered the crew to drop anchor and prepare for impact when alarms indicated a loss of power. The ferry gently grounded on a soft mud bottom with no damage. The crew prepared for an evacuation, but a police presence helped maintain order among the passengers. All passengers were eventually evacuated to other ferries, and the grounded ferry was towed back to deep water for evaluation. An inspection revealed that the fuel filters were plugged with bacterial and fungal growth, which was traced back to contaminated water in the day tanks due to human error. Recommendations were made to improve operating procedures and technical supervision for priming the centrifugal separator.

The grounding of the Walla Walla ferry highlighted the importance of maintaining fuel supply systems to prevent loss of power. The captain’s quick actions to drop anchor and prepare for impact helped prevent any significant damage to the ferry. However, the crew faced challenges during the evacuation process, with limited communication and some passengers resisting cooperation. The presence of police helped maintain order and ensure the safety of all passengers. The inspection following the incident revealed that the fuel filters were clogged with bacterial and fungal growth, which was traced back to contaminated water in the day tanks. Recommendations were made to improve operating procedures and technical supervision to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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