Hours after the new Oakland-Alameda Water Shuttle took its first trip across the estuary Wednesday, crews discovered damage to the vessel and shut down the service until further notice.
In a statement, San Francisco Bay Ferry said during service Wednesday evening, crews noticed damage above the water line on the vessel and the captain suspended service immediately. The agency did not say how or when the boat was damaged.
Passengers ride the Woodstock water shuttle as it crosses the estuary from Alameda Landing to Jack London Square on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
The Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle begins service between the two cities on July 17. The free shuttle will have room for 34 people and 14 bikes. (Photo courtesy: Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle)
photo courtesy of Maurice Ramirez
The new free Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle, above, between Alameda’s West End and Oakland’s Jack London Square is scheduled to launch service this coming Wednesday and run 37 trips a day, with each one taking less than 10 minutes.
Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft disembarks the Woodstock water shuttle at Alameda Landing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. The trips take about 10 minutes. The water shuttle is being operated under a two-year pilot program. The boat has room for nearly three dozen people and more than a dozen bikes. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Woodstock water shuttle captain Adam Santner, left, maneuvers the boat from Alameda Landing to Jack London Square on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
A passenger records their trip on the Woodstock water shuttle as it crosses the estuary from Alameda Landing to Jack London Square on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Passengers aboard the Woodstock water shuttle as they prepare to cross the estuary from Jack London Square to Alameda Landing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
An Alameda Fire Department boat sprays water as the Woodstock water shuttle crosses the estuary from Jack London Square to Alameda Landing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Passengers board the Woodstock water shuttle at Alameda Landing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Passengers ride the Woodstock water shuttle as it crosses the estuary from Jack London Square to Alameda Landing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
The Woodstock water shuttle crosses the estuary from Jack London Square to Alameda Landing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Passengers aboard the Woodstock water shuttle as they prepare to cross the estuary from Jack London Square to Alameda Landing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Alameda, Calif. The free service operates 37 one-way trips across the estuary Wednesday-Sunday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Welders repaired the damage overnight, completing work at 4 a.m. Thursday. San Francisco Bay Ferry said it will provide service updates following U.S. Coast Guard inspection of the repairs. The shuttle service will remain suspended until that point.
Sarah Henry, a spokesperson for the city of Alameda, said the boat, which holds 31 passengers and 14 bicycles, was filled to capacity during its morning runs and was about half full during the lunch time trips. Before the boat was taken out of service, more than 450 people had used the service, she said.
The free shuttle is being operated under a two-year pilot program. The shuttle transports people between Alameda Landing on the west end of the island at the base of the tubes and Jack London Square in Oakland.
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