Crack in hull halts Keller Ferry

The Keller Ferry across the Columbia River on State Route 21 is out of service until further notice.

Water is seeping into one of the Sanpoil’s internal compartments through a hairline crack below the waterline. The Washington State Department of Transportation advised the U.S. Coast Guard of the issue Tuesday, September 9, and the vessel was taken out of passenger service.

The one-inch-long hairline crack is located on the port side of the vessel about 14 feet back from the front propeller. The seepage site is in the hull plate just above the keel.

Divers from the vessel builder, Foss Maritim...