For our user agree- ment, click here . The big boats that carry as many as 230 cars on routes from south Puget Sound to the San Juan Islands depend upon computers to regulate propulsion and navigation systems. For the past two years, the system has been preparing for possible problems that could occur with the date change to 2000, Fife said. Older computer systems could malfunction because of the so-called Y2K problem if their software only recognizes the last two digits of a year. The ferries' computerized propulsion systems have a checkered past.
Investigators suspect a computer software malfunction was to blame.
Last year, officials found that the propulsion systems of nine ferries could be put at risk by the date change. Right now I can very confidently say the ferry system on Dec. 31 through January 2000 expects to have all its scheduled vessels in service. Some terminals have been equipped with standby generators to allow boarding operations to continue in case there are any electrical power problems. Loss of power would knock the computerized ticket system off-line and force ferry system employees to sell tickets manually. The ferry system's emergency operations system will be staffed beginning at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 to monitor the fleet.