NEED TO KNOW
- The MV Skansonia, a retired ferry boat that is now used as a wedding venue, nearly sank after taking on water on June 22
- The boat’s owner said repairs to the vessel could take weeks, leaving couples’ wedding plans in limbo
- “It’s just your worst nightmare,” said bride-to-be Alexis Robertson, whose nuptials are set to take place on the Fourth of July
A number of couples, who were set to celebrate their summer wedding aboard a retired ferry boat in Seattle, are now feeling at sea after the vessel took on water and nearly sank.
On Monday, June 22, the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) shared in a post on X that crews were on the scene on the north shore of Lake Union “removing water” from the 165-foot MV Skansonia.
According to local outlet KING 5, a maintenance crew noticed the vessel rapidly taking on water and called for help. In an update shared on X later on Monday, the SFD said crews had removed the water from the boat and “stabilized” the vessel.
“The owner informed us the boat has a steel skid hull with additional floatation buoys to prevent it from sinking,” the fire department said. “No injuries reported.”
Speaking with KING 5, Ed Ehler, the ferry’s owner, said, “It sank very fast, so I have divers coming down to check it out to make sure nobody hit the boat in the middle of the night.”
Seattle Fire Dept.
Ehler said his decision to reinforce the Skansonia with a steel hull and a flotation system proved critical in preventing the boat from sinking entirely.
The SFD crews also used heavy-duty equipment to stabilize the boat. “Our equipment was able to pump out about 1,500 gallons per minute, more than 10 times their capabilities,” David Cuerpo of the SFD told KING 5.
The cause of the flooding is still under investigation.
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Ehler said repairs to the vessel could take weeks — which is not ideal, considering summer is a busy time for the wedding industry.
“We are booked for the season,” he explained. “There are going to be some unhappy brides, but hopefully we can make this happen quickly.”
Bride-to-be Alexis Robertson, a senior producer at KING 5’s New Day Northwest, is one of the brides affected. She and her partner, KING 5 reporter Sebastian Robertson, were set to celebrate their wedding aboard the Skansonia on the Fourth of July.
They have invited 96 guests, many of whom have flights booked for the occasion.
“Your heart sinks. I just started tearing up,” Alexis said of learning about the damage to the ferry. “I’m shaking because we’re less than two weeks out from my date. We were having our huge wedding reception, family flying in… it’s just your worst nightmare.”
She said she and Sebastian had been looking forward to holding their event on the Skansonia, which she described as “the most perfect venue on the water that I can think of.”
Landmark Event Co., which leases space on the retired ferry boat, told KING 5 that they are working with all clients affected by the situation. One couple’s reception has already been relocated to the nearby Fremont Foundry.
PEOPLE has reached out to Landmark Event Co. for more information.
According to the company’s website, the Skansonia was built in 1929 and ferried cars and passengers between Vashon Island and Point Defiance for decades before being permanently docked on Lake Union. The boat was then transformed into a stylish event venue, offering “rustic charm” and “a postcard view” of the Seattle skyline.
