WSF weekly update indicates service restorations begin on Anacortes/San Juans run

||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

Four-boat Anacortes/San Juan Islands trial service marks beginning of gradual service restoration

Starting tomorrow, Nov. 19, a fourth boat will be added on our Anacortes/San Juan Islands route to operate a full fall schedule on a trial basis. With new hires and agreements with our labor partners, this is the first step in service restoration. New vehicle reservations for the run remain suspended until it is certain that all four vessels can be fully crewed on a regular basis. As we continue to hire more staff, we plan to incrementally restore service on other routes once we can reliably operate all four boats in the San Juan Islands. Again, this is just a trial, but the start of building back our system in the months ahead.

All vehicles on our Anacortes/San Juan Islands route are loading on a first-come, first-served basis, but existing reservation holders are prioritized over those without one.

Thanksgiving weekend ferry travel

If you’re planning to catch a ferry over Thanksgiving weekend, stay up to date with our latest sailing schedules online. If crewing allows, daily sailings may be added on routes operating reduced service. We switched to alternate service schedules on most routes Oct. 16, to reduce last-minute sailing cancellations caused by crewing challenges. I also suggest signing up for our ferry email alerts and checking terminal conditions before heading out the door.

Long waits are possible for people driving a vehicle onto a vessel, especially westbound (or onto an island) Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 24, through Thursday morning, Nov. 25, then eastbound (or off island) Thursday afternoon through Friday, Nov. 26. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, there will be a few schedule changes on some routes. The Seattle/Bainbridge Island and Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth runs will operate on a weekend timetable that day. Holiday sailings are marked on the schedule page for each route.

To my colleagues who will be working this Thanksgiving, a special thanks to your dedication and commitment to connect people and communities over the holiday weekend.

Sea Scouts tour Puyallup

We had the pleasure of hosting eight Sea Scouts – and possible future mariners – aboard Puyallup over the weekend! The Sea Scouts Propeller unit from Seattle toured the vessel to see what it’s like to work on one of our ferries. Sea Scouts is a youth maritime training program that is part of the Boy Scouts of America for males and females ages 14 to 21. Many of my coworkers say it is this program that inspired them to work in the maritime industry.

Thank you to our Puyallup crewmembers for sharing their maritime knowledge and experience with the Sea Scouts during their tour of the vessel!