<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear Chamber Members:<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Here's the latest!</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="6"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><B>Klickitat Returned Quickly to Port Townsend/Keystone Route</B></SPAN></FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><DIV class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: auto;"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> </FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">SEATTLE – Washington State Ferries Director of Marine Operations Traci Brewer-Rogstad announced this morning that the M/V Klickitat was successfully repaired overnight at Todd Shipyard in Seattle and will return to service this afternoon on the Port Townsend/Keystone run.</FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> </FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">“We are relieved to report that we can return service this afternoon at 2:15 PM from Port Townsend. Due to the commitment and collaboration of Washington State Ferries, Todd Shipyard and the Coast Guard, the M/V Klickitat was dry-docked yesterday afternoon and repairs to the hull were completed early this morning. Testing was successful and the vessel crews are preparing for transit from Seattle to Port Townsend.” says Ms. Brewer-Rogstad. “Safety is always our first concern, but quickly returning service to our ferry riders and communities has been a great relief.”</FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> </FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">The Klickitat was removed from service on the Port Townsend-Keystone route on Monday after a crack in the hull plating was detected. The ferry run was closed for two days until the vessel could be repaired or another vessel became available to replace it.</FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> </FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">Once the vessel was dry-docked on Tuesday afternoon, experts determined the crack was 6-inches-long with a 3-inch crack extending up the bulkhead. Repairs included completely replacing a hull plating measuring 18 inches by 9 inches. The total cost of repairs is estimated to be around $50,000.</FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> </FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">“This has been very difficult for a number of our customers,” continues Ms. Brewer-Rogstad, “and we appreciate their patience and resilience in having to find alternative means of travel for the past two days.”</FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> </FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV><P class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">###</FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><DIV class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: auto;"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> </FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>