Bremerton-Seattle ferry service resumes after threat reported

The Bremerton-Seattle ferry run returned to service Tuesday afternoon after a reported threat forced traffic to be rerouted to Bainbridge Island.

A man called 911 just after 12:30 p.m. to report that he overheard two men at a convenience store discussing a terrorist threat against a Bremerton ferry.

The ferry Hyak was just leaving Bremerton for Seattle and was ordered back to the terminal, where it was immediately off-loaded, said State Patrol Trooper Krista Hedstrom. The threat did not appear to be credible, she said, but officials were acting in an abundance of caution.

The terminal was evacuated, roads leading to it were closed and nearby businesses were alerted. Officials rerouted Bremerton ferry traffic to Bainbridge Island until after a bomb squad search turned up no explosives at the ferry or terminal.

The number of passengers aboard the ferry and in the terminal was not immediately known.

The caller refused to give his name, Hedstrom said.

"He called and said, 'I overheard two males talking about a terrorist threat on the next ferry leaving Bremerton,"' Hedstrom said. "When we tried to get more information about the conversation, that's when we lost the call."

The 911 operator did not have a number to call him back, she said.

Three Coast Guard boats responded, said Petty Officer Shawn Eggert, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it was monitoring the situation.

The scheduled 12:45 p.m. departure from Seattle to Bremerton (Kaleetan) has been rerouted to Bainbridge Island. Washington State Ferries is coordinating with Kitsap Transit to transport customers from Bainbridge Island to Bremerton.

Customers who had to evacuate the Hyak were given ride vouchers, said Hadley Greene, ferry spokeswoman.