Ferry travelers on their way to Whidbey to celebrate Christmas Eve with loved ones saw their plans suddenly change when the Salish turned back to Port Townsend due to driftwood obstructing Keystone Harbor.

The ferry, which had already completed the first three roundtrips of the day, left Port Townsend at 11 a.m. As the boat approached Keystone Harbor, the captain saw driftwood floating in the channel, prompting him to return to Port Townsend and cancel the trip, according to Justin Fujioka, spokesperson for Washington State Ferries.

Three more round trips, scheduled for 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m., were also canceled.

Recent videos and photos posted on Whidbey Facebook community pages show logs cramming against the island’s shores. While the debris in the channel was less and more sparse, Fujioka said, it could still pose a significant risk to boats.

Logs in fact can bend and damage propellers, causing a ferry to become unstable. Even the smallest dent, Fujioka said, can cause the boat to vibrate in an abnormal way. In 2023, the Puyallup hit a floating log while traveling between Edmonds and Kingston. The impact bent the propeller, causing excessive vibrations that prompted the ferry system to pull the vessel out of the water for repairs.

Service was resumed from Port Townsend at 2 p.m. after the currents moved the driftwood away. When it began to make a comeback, the Salish launched a rescue boat at about 2:45 to 3 p.m. and crews moved some of the driftwood out of the ferry’s way, Fujioka said.

The recent windstorms are likely to blame for the inconvenience. The Port Townsend-Coupeville route is the most susceptible to weather, he said, and it can already be challenging on a regular day.

On Christmas, the ferry system canceled four out of 10 roundtrips for the route because of the strong winds, while three other trips were canceled due to a crewing issue.

(Photo provided) Driftwood prevented the Salish from landing at Keystone Harbor on Tuesday.