Overloaded ferry has to force 484 to leave

BREMERTON (AP) — A Seattle-bound Washington state ferry mistakenly loaded with 484 more passengers than it was rated to carry had to return to the dock and leave the overflow at the Bremerton ferry terminal late Friday afternoon as Seattle Seahawks fans tried to reach an evening preseason game.

When the captain’s call for volunteers netted only about 100 passengers, state troopers were asked to assist, the Kitsap Sun reported.

State Patrol Sgt. Tina Martin says troopers told passengers the boat would not sail until it was no longer overloaded.

Washington State Ferries spokeswoman Marta Coursey says ferry staff apparently thought the Cathlamet could carry 1,600 passengers when its capacity is 1,200.

She says 1,684 passengers were loaded, so 484 had to leave.

Coursey says the Cathlamet left Bremerton about an hour late. She says she thinks everyone left behind was able to board the next Bremerton-Seattle ferry.

Washington state Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson apologized to those inconvenienced, promising that “everyone in the chain of command at Washington State Ferries responsible for this oversight will be held accountable.”

The ferries spokeswoman says those taken off the boat were given vouchers for a free trip.