"Grey's Anatomy" plans two-part episode on state ferries

It's ships ahoy for the popular medical series "Grey's Anatomy," set in Seattle.

Washington State Ferries will be featured in a two-part episode airing Feb. 8 and 15 on ABC.

In September 2005 the crew boarded the Seattle to Bainbridge Island ferry for a day of filming. Co-executive producer Peter Horton is originally from Bainbridge.

The episodes themselves weren't filmed on the ferries, but ferry pictures were used as backdrops for the series, said Susan Harris, spokeswoman for the ferries. She said the shows involve a vessel hitting a ferry and the ferry slamming into a dock.

"There's trauma, chaos and blood," Harris said.

The state was reluctant to participate in the show because it involves medical drama and officials were worried it may seem real to viewers.

"Knowing the risk involved, Washington State Ferries moved very carefully with the filming of the episode," said Mike Anderson, head of the state ferries. "We were concerned that whatever incident the show portrayed as causing the problem not imply negligence on the part of the ferry system."