Washington State Ferries suspend multiple routes amid crew shortages
Widespread employee callouts forced Washington State Ferries to cancel or reduce service on several routes on Monday, prompting officials to urge riders to seek alternative travel options.
Washington State Ferries announced on Monday that crew shortages could halt service on many of its routes, leading to cancellations and reduced schedules across the system. The agency warned that the lack of qualified personnel threatened to disrupt or stop sailings on several corridors, and it advised commuters to monitor alerts and consider alternative routes.
The first notice, issued Sunday night, warned that “several routes are at risk of reduced or no service to start the day on Monday, Oct. 5.” Updates early Monday confirmed the outlook, with specific vessels withdrawn from service and some routes operating with only one boat.
"Washington State Ferries employees, like many workers, earn sick leave, and we honor employees' use of that leave when they are unable to work," the agency said in a statement. "When a crew member calls out, we work to find a qualified relief employee to fill the position so the sailing can operate safely."
Among the affected services were the Port Townsend-Coupeville crossing, which lost the #1 Kennewick for the day, and the Seattle-Bainbridge route, which was taken out of service after the early morning sailing. The Seattle-Bremerton line reduced to one-boat service, and the Anacortes-San Juan Islands corridor faced extensive morning cancellations. The Edmonds-Kingston route also saw vessels withdrawn and a complete shutdown after the morning sail.
Riders were urged to sign up for email or text alerts and to check the Washington State Department of Transportation ferry alerts page for real-time updates. The ferry system said it was investigating the cause of the callouts and exploring options to maintain operations where possible.