Washington State Ferries (WSF) cancelled sailings and suspended or reduced service across Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands after 23 engine room personnel called in sick on Monday, October 5.
At one point during the disruption, 13 of the system’s 18 vessels in operation were unavailable.
WSF said qualified relief employees declined to fill the vacancies. The agency was investigating the absences and difficulties obtaining replacements, with the cause remaining unclear.
Vessels must meet US Coast Guard staffing requirements at the start of each service day; an unfilled position prevents a vessel from sailing.
In a Monday evening alert, WSF said it anticipated “more normal service” on Tuesday, October 6, while warning that schedules remained subject to crew and vessel availability.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson met local and national union leaders on Monday morning to discuss staffing concerns.
“My expectation is that every vessel on every route is fully operational no later than the first vessel sailing tomorrow morning,” Ferguson said in a statement issued that day.
WSF blocked new reservations and reservation changes for Monday and waived no-show fees. Passengers booked on cancelled sailings were to be accommodated on alternate departures, with places assigned first-come, first-served.
To assist displaced passengers, Kitsap Transit scheduled two additional morning fast ferry trips to Southworth.
The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, which represents the affected employees, said it had neither initiated nor assisted the callouts and had learned about them through media reports.
The union attributed wider staffing difficulties to minimum crew levels and reliance on overtime.
