Ferry boat captain fired for running into dock

SEATTLE – Washington State Ferries has fired the captain of the ferry Cathlamet, which ran into the Mukilteo dock on June 1, saying he exercised poor judgment.

Capt. Dan Tracy, 60, a 13-year veteran of the ferry system, is appealing his dismissal.

The accident caused $139,000 in damages to the ferry and $1 million to the Mukilteo terminal. There were two minor injuries: A galley worker was struck by a beverage cart, and a passenger suffered cuts and bruises when he fell down six stairs.

According to a report by the state ferry system, Tracy did not follow procedures in slowing the vessel as it was coming into the dock, he didn’t follow procedures in operating the vessel and he failed to call the chief mate to the pilothouse when he became ill and needed an emergency break.

“The complete lack of adherence to pertinent WSF … procedures led directly to the (crash),” the report said. Investigators said Tracy failed to sound the danger signal or give any warning before hitting the terminal.

“While terminating Capt. Tracy was a very difficult decision, our passengers rely on our crews’ uncompromising commitment to their safety every day,” said port Capt. Mark McElwaine, lead investigator into the accident. “Our No. 1 concern is passenger safety.”

McElwaine said Tracy could have asked someone else to dock the boat, which was carrying 73 cars and 100 passengers, if he was feeling ill.