The Columbia was loading in Bellingham on Friday when ferry workers discovered the problem.
Transportation
No budget by July means no ferry service
State ferries will stop sailing by July if the Legislature fails to reach a budget deal. All 11 ships will head to their home ports and stay there.
New private ferry service for Southeast to begin in June
The Rainforest Islands Ferry plans to offer roundtrip runs between Coffman Cove, on northern Prince of Wales Island, Wrangell Island and South Mitkof Island near Petersburg, four days a week.
Delayed ferry heads for Unalaska despite government shutdown threat
The Alaska state ferry Tustumena spent at least five extra days off the water and missed its first scheduled sailing earlier this month, and it is headed for Unalaska this weekend.
Flooding closes Dalton Highway
A month after overflow from the Sag River shut it down, spring melt water has made the only access road to the North Slope oil fields impassable again.
Budget cuts sideline Taku ferry July through September
A budget shuffle means most state ferries will sail their scheduled routes this summer. But one ship, the Taku, will be shut down.