It will almost be like winter starting on Sunday
— from Washington State Ferries —
The smaller M/V Kitsap will replace the M/V Elwha starting Sunday, July 28. The 124-vehicle Kitsap will sail in the #5 position starting with the 4:45 p.m. out of Anacortes on Sunday once the 144-vehicle Elwha leaves the route. It will then sail in the #2 position starting Monday, July 29, and stay there while it remains on the route. The reduction in capacity will not affect current reservation holders. However, there will be limited reservations for customers making bookings during the third-tier release. Standby space will also be limited.
The move is due to complications repairing the M/V Kaleetan. The vessel will not be able to return to the route by Monday as initially anticipated. The Elwha must also leave the route as it must undergo needed repairs. This leaves the Kitsap as the only option as a replacement. Maintenance crews are working as quickly as possible to return the Kaleetan back to service by the middle of the week.
We apologize for the service disruption and will continue to send updates as they become available.
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Isn’t it amazing that WSF chose to let us know about this change late on Friday afternoon, when it goes into effect less than 48 hours later? Surely the system’s scheduling and maintenance planners knew of this unanticipated disruption earlier. Now, in the very peak of our summer season here in the San Juans, and with virtually no notice, we will lose 20 car spaces on each of six daily round trips from and to Anacortes. I also note there is no stated end date for this disruption. Little wonder that we continue to be frustrated by ferry system management.