WSF weekly update for 70th anniversary celebration (with Olga Symphony accompaniment)

||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

It’s our 70th anniversary week!

Tuesday marked 70 years since we began operations following the state’s purchase of the ferry system from Puget Sound Navigation Company (Black Ball Line). Since 1951, we’ve been proud to serve Washingtonians and visitors by operating the state’s marine highway system. The pandemic has made celebrations a challenge, so we wanted to make sure to take this special opportunity to thank our customers and frontline employees by unveiling a 70th anniversary logo and releasing a special video this week.

Decals of our 70th anniversary logo are being installed on each of our 21 vessels and will remain there through the end of the year.

Since Tuesday, we have been handing out these commemorative stickers with each transaction across our system and will continue to while supplies last.

All our employees are receiving this commemorative pin to proudly wear while we serve our riders.

Seattle/Bremerton route on one-boat service

Our Seattle/Bremerton route is operating on one-boat service (using only #2 Chimacum) after #1 Salish suffered a steering system failure Sunday. Repairs are going well and, pending successful sea trials, the vessel could return to the run by the weekend. I understand the impact this service reduction is having on our customers and apologize for the inconvenience.

Salish experienced a steering system failure Sunday, resulting in one-boat-service on our Seattle/Bremerton route this week.

As a reminder, Salish operates at a slower speed than the vessels that typically operate on this route so when it returns to service, our Seattle/Bremerton run will go back to operating on a modified timetable, which eliminates a midday roundtrip and adjusts some departure times. This adjusted sailing schedule is scheduled to be in place through at least June 27.

Holiday weekend brings two of our busiest days since start of pandemic 

A combination of Memorial Day travel and warm weather brought a spike in ridership over the holiday weekend. In fact, Saturday, May 29, is now our busiest day since the start of the pandemic with nearly 80,000 riders, and Sunday, May 30, is second with more than 72,000.

A mask is required on public transportation, including all our vessels and terminals, indoors and outdoors, unless in a personal vehicle.

With weekend ridership expected to be at or above these levels through summer, be prepared for the possibility of long waits if coming aboard in a vehicle, especially during peak travel times. If walking on, be aware that we will enforce reduced occupancy in terminals and on sailings to comply with the state’s directive on physical distance standards for public transportation.

Before boarding, riders are encouraged to sign up for ferry email alerts, check terminal conditions and consider vehicle reservations if driving on our Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes.

Food kiosk in Anacortes vehicle holding lanes reopens 

The Dockside food kiosk located by the vehicle holding lanes at our Anacortes terminal has reopened. The café inside the Anacortes terminal building remains closed, but our concessions vendor is working to reopen that facility, along with limited galley service this summer. The Dockside food kiosk is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, offering a variety of prepackaged foods and beverages.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we slowly reopen our food services in a healthy and safe manner.

In honor of WSF 70th anniversary:
BLACK BALL FERRY | Olga Symphony