By Mike De Felice

Kitsap Daily News

PORT ORCHARD – Fast ferry service between Southworth and downtown Seattle is expected to resume the week of April 4, according to Kitsap Transit.

The passenger-only ferry M/V Enetai was taken out of service on March 23 after divers conducting routine maintenance discovered a hole in the vessel’s aluminum hull’s bow. A 2-by-3-inch gouge was found that allowed water to enter a sealed compartment, transit officials reported.

“The crew has not reported any log strikes in the past month since divers last inspected Enetai’s hull. This is the first time we have seen this type of issue on the Enetai,” said Kitsap Transit spokesman Sanjay Bhatt.

The vessel is currently docked in Bremerton. On Wednesday, the ferry will be taken to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island for repairs, Bhatt said.

The M/V Commander, which operates the Kingston-Seattle route, is the backup vessel on the Southworth-Seattle route. However, Commander is not available because its relief vessel, M/V Finest, is also undergoing repairs, according to officials.

The fast ferry services about 350 passengers daily in its 26-minute run between Southworth and Seattle. The streamlined boat normally makes eight roundtrips daily Monday-Friday.