The following is the text of a press releas issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SEATTLE) — The Coast Guard and Seattle Fire Dept. responded to a report of smoke in the engine room of the passenger ferry Rachel Marie, Friday.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a report of a smoke, associated with a generator, in ferry’s engine room at approximately 8:55 a.m.
Seattle Fire Dept. responded first and, with the assistance of the Rachel Marie crew, determined the smoke was coming from the alternator on the port side generator.
Rachel Marie was approximately 100 yards from shore where it had last pushed off at the West Seattle Sea Crest Marina when the smoke was discovered. The vessel returned to Crest Marina and safely disembarked all passengers.
No injuries or pollution have been reported.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound inspectors and investigating officers are currently on scene.
The Rachel Marie is a 77-foot passenger ferry that runs from West Seattle to Seattle. The non-vehicle ferry holds a maximum capacity of 150 people. There are no reports yet on how many people were aboard at the time the fire broke out.
