WSF: Service to Sidney B.C. likely won't resume until 2030
Planning a trip to Victoria, BC? Don't plan on taking a Washington State Ferry anytime soon. WSF does not anticipate being able to restore service on the Anacortes/Sidney, B.C. route any sooner than spring 2030.
WSF has been incrementally adding service to meet increasing demand as the ferry system recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and responds to ongoing crew and vessel availability challenges. WSF hired 233 employees in last year (2022), 202 of them were fleet personnel. Unfortunately, that wasn't the final figure, 141 employees retired or left for other reasons. The net gain was 61 new fleet employees.
A return to full capacity of the system is dependent on several variables including resolving the problem of lack of vessels due to unanticipated breakdowns and an aging fleet.
The most recent progress in restoring service included these steps:
• The Edmonds/Kingston route has completed its trial stage and is now considered fully restored to its regular two-boat schedule.
• WSF expects to begin trialing weekday three-boat service on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route in early-April, or once a vessel and crewing is available. At this time, WSF expects to fully restore weekday service by the end of May 2023 and to be operating the full weekly schedule by fall 2023.
• WSF anticipates having crewing available to restore the Seattle/Bremerton route to full service in October 2023. In the meantime, WSF will add additional morning and midday trips as crewing and a vessel is available, restoring partial two-boat service before the start of the summer season.
• A trial of full, two-boat service on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route will begin in spring 2024.
• WSF does not anticipate being able to restore service on the Anacortes/Sidney, B.C. route any sooner than spring 2030.
The full WSF Service Restoration Plan Progress Report can be viewed on the WSF website.