UPDATE: Friday Harbor ferry service shut down as Sheriff’s Office investigated Elwha bomb threat

At 7:15 p.m., Friday Harbor ferry service has resumed; no explosive device found

— from Sheriff Ron Krebs —

On Monday, July 1 at 1:32 p.m. a call came into dispatch from a WSF worker about a bomb threat aboard the Elwha. At this time the ferry has been evacuated and is parked at the dock. All ferry service has been shut down awaiting arrival of the Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad.

At this time we have no further information. Updates will be provided as we get them.

Notification from Washington State Ferries advises that “all service in and out of Friday Harbor has been suspended until further notice due to law enforcement activity at the terminal.”

UPDATED 7:15 p.m.:

On July 1 at 1:32 p.m. a call came into dispatch from a WSF worker aboard the ferry Elwha, of a note found inside one of the women’s bathrooms that talked about a bomb.

The US Coast Guard determined the vessel should be tied up to the dock and all ferry personnel evacuated. The vessel was empty of all passengers and vehicles at the time the staff disembarked.

With the help of the bomb disposal teams of the King County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, and the US Coast Guard, K-9 bomb detection teams went aboard the vessel. At approximately 6:30 p.m., after a little over an hour, the Elwha was determined to be clear of any explosive hazards.

The bomb disposal teams found nothing suspicious aboard the vessel and at approximately 7 p.m. ferry services continued. An investigation by the Washington State Patrol will be conducted into the circumstances in which the note was placed in the bathroom.

If you have any information into the incident please call the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office at 360-378-4151.

UPDATED 6:30 p.m.: M/V Elwha has been cleared to sail and normal operations will resume as soon as possible. Supplemental sailings will be added to help accommodate passengers going to Friday Harbor and returning to Anacortes. Updates will be provided on the additional sailings once the information becomes available.

Standby space is full for the remainder of the day departing Anacortes to/from Friday Harbor. Only reservation holders will be honored at these terminals. 

We appreciate your patience during this disruption.

UPDATED 5:27 p.m.: All service in and out of Friday Harbor has been suspended until further notice due to law enforcement activity at the terminal. Reservation holders that are not able to sail due to the service disruption will not be charged the no show fee. Service is still running to/from Anacortes and Lopez, Shaw and Orcas. New reservations are not currently available due to schedule adjustments that will be made once the terminal is re-opened.

Standby space is full for the remainder of the day departing Anacortes to/from Friday Harbor. Only reservation holders will be honored at these terminals.