WSF updates vehicle restrictions at Orcas Island terminal

||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

During a recent inspection, engineers found cracks in the steel under the transfer span, the part of the slip that raises and lowers to meet up with the ferry to allow vehicles to drive on and off.

Repairs are expected to take up to two weeks. We are working on options to shorten the duration and will share additional information as it becomes available.

We have implemented vehicle restrictions at the Orcas terminal:

• Only vehicles under 22 feet in length AND under 8,000 pounds can load and unload at the Orcas terminal. Vehicles over 22 feet in length or over 8,000 pounds will not be permitted to load. Terminal staff will assess vehicles that may exceed the 8,000-pound weight limit and may deny loading if a vehicle is determined to be too heavy.
• Vehicle speed is limited to 5 miles per hour while loading and unloading.
• Vehicles must stay on the east side of the terminal bridge (left during loading and right during unloading.)

Any vehicles over 22 feet in length or over 8,000 pounds that are heading to Orcas Island will not be loaded at Anacortes, Shaw, Lopez, or Friday Harbor. For customers with reservations of vehicles 22 feet in length and over, no-show fees will not be charged.

These restrictions are needed to maintain safe terminal operations.  We will send an update as soon as we have more information on the repairs and options for larger vehicles that are currently on Orcas Island. We’ll also continue updating this blog post about the restrictions and repairs.