PORT ANGELES — It’s a familiar refrain from mechanics: “You’ll have to wait. The parts are coming from the factory overseas.”
The crew of the Hoechst Express, currently tied up at the Port of Port Angeles’ T-1 terminal, heard that last week after their ship pulled into Port Angeles Harbor with engine problems.
Port Deputy Executive Director Dave Hagiwara said the 965-foot German-registered container ship was outbound from Seattle when it was forced into Port Angeles Harbor more than a week ago.
“It came from Seattle and this was as far as it got,” Hagiwara said.
The ship’s engines require new bearings which must come from a factory in Germany, he said.
Cheaper to dock ship
Since the container ship was anchored in the harbor without working engines, it was considered disabled and therefore required to have a tugboat nearby 24 hours a day, Hagiwara said.
Then the ship’s owners, Hapag-Lloyd AG, determined it would be cheaper to tie up at the Port’s T-1 terminal to await arrival of the engine bearings, he said.
Hagiwara said it hasn’t been determined whether the Hoeschst Express’ crew will make the repairs or if the work will be contracted out. The ship is scheduled to be at the dock until Monday, he said.