The West Seattle Water Taxi impacted the seawall in downtown Seattle Sep. 26 at approximately 11:30 a.m. , and seven people were injured.The Rachel Marie hit the historic Pier 50 at approximately 7 mph. One person fell in the water and was rescued.

78 passengers and crew were aboard at the time, many of them headed to the Seahawks game.

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Those injured were taken to the waterfront division of the Seattle Fire Department or to the hospital.

SPD Lieutenant John Ling said there was no known cause at this time but that all possibilities including pilot error would be examined. One crewman on the dock suggested that it was mechanical error.

After impact the packing gland around the propellor failed causing the vessel to take on water. This dealt with by the crew. At no time was the vessel in danger of sinking.

The Rachel Marie was towed out by a Crowley tug around 2:30 p.m.

While a piling was clearly damaged along the seawall and the front of the boat was damaged it appeared that the windows on the front of the vessel took the brunt of the impact. Two of them were smashed in.

A crewman who was on board the Melissa Ann was on the dock when the boat hit. He said, "it was just surreal. We stood there watching it(...)This can't be happening."

Another crew member said, "It was loud and scary(...) it could have been so much worse"

The US Coast Guard will take the lead in the investigation.

Traffic in the area was disrupted but not blocked, especially in light of the Seahawks game at nearby Qwest Field.

A report on the Washington State Ferries website stated that the 11:25 a.m. sailing from Seattle of the M/V Wenatchee was delayed by the incident.

The Melissa Ann, one of two boats, was put into service for the remainder of the day.This vessel is often used for the Vashon Foot Ferry route.

The engineer on the vessel that hit the dock was hurt.

Press Release from KCDOT:

West Seattle/Downtown Seattle water taxi service
to operate normal schedule Monday
 
Water taxi service between West Seattle and downtown Seattle will operate on a normal schedule Monday, Sept. 27 between Seacrest Dock and Pier 55, according to the King County Department of Transportation.
 
Service was briefly suspended Sunday when the vessel Rachel Marie struck a waterfront landing adjacent to its regular docking location along Alaskan Way in downtown Seattle. Preliminary reports point to a mechanical malfunction. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating the incident.  
 
While regular service will resume Monday morning with the 6:50 a.m. sailing using an Argosy Cruises vessel, passengers should visit the King County Marine Division’s website at
http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi/WestSeattleRou… for updates and potential schedule adjustments.