BREAKING NEWS: Port Townsend ferry back in service at 3:45 p.m.

Published 12:01 am Monday, November 17, 2008

PORT TOWNSEND — The Steilacoom II ferry was taken out of service shortly after noon today after a bearing burned out on an alternator, stranding the vessel at the Port Townsend terminal, a Washington State Ferries spokeswoman said.

Quick work put the 60-car ferry back in service with the 3:45 p.m. run, said Hadley Greene.

The ferry, the North Olympic Peninsula’s “water highway” to Keystone on Whidbey Island, was taken out of service at about 12:30 p.m., Greene said.