Washington State Ferries said Monday morning that routes may be out of service due to a “lack of qualified crew.”

SEATTLE — Twenty-three engine room workers, who are essential to ferry operations, participated in a “sick-out” Monday which caused most Washington State Ferries routes to be cancelled or severely disrupted. 

Sources who spoke to KING 5 on condition of anonymity, said the action is in response to the state not awarding raises or cost-of-living adjustments to engine room workers represented by the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, or MEBA, following arbitration.



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Engine room workers represented by MEBA and deckhands represented by the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, or IBU, were awarded 0% increases for their two-year contract, the source told KING 5. The unions subsequently went to arbitration but were not awarded additional increases for their unions respectively. 

Staff chief engineers have a base salary of $157,000 per year and can make more than $350,000 per year with overtime, according to state ferries. 

The agency said management is working on options to address the disruptions. When an employee calls out, dispatchers work to fill the position, but if the position isn’t filled, WSF said the boat cannot sail. They added qualified employees available to fill those shifts declined to work.

Gov. Bob Ferguson said he was meeting with ferry leadership, and more details were to come on how they would resolve the situation. 

“I understand that thousands of Washingtonians are deeply impacted by what’s happening with our ferries,” Ferguson said in a statement.

New reservations and reservation changes are blocked for Monday, and no-show fees are waived. Passengers with reservations on canceled sailings will be accommodated on other departures on a first-come, first-served basis, according to WSF. 

Here are the current cancellations and disruptions, with 13 of WSF’s 18 ferries being out of service: 


Seattle-Bremerton

The No. 2 Chimacum, which serves the Seattle-Bremerton route, will be out of service Monday because of a crew shortage.

The route will remain on one-boat service, with the following sailings canceled:

– 6:20 a.m.: Bremerton to Seattle

– 7:35 a.m.: Seattle to Bremerton

– 8:45 a.m.: Bremerton to Seattle

– 10 a.m.: Seattle to Bremerton

– 11:10 a.m.: Bremerton to Seattle

– 12:20 p.m.: Seattle to Bremerton


Seattle-Bainbridge Island

The Seattle-Bainbridge Island route is out of service following the Puyallup’s 5:30 a.m. sailing, according to WSF. The Wenatchee is also out of service. 


Edmonds-Kingston

WSF said the Spokane operated its first two round trips. The Walla Walla is out of service Monday.

The following sailings were scheduled:

– 5:35 a.m. and 7:10 a.m. from Edmonds

– 6:25 a.m. from Kingston

At around 7:25 a.m., WSF said the Edmonds-Kingston route would be out of service for the rest of the day. 

WSF also said the Kittitas and Cathlamet will be out of service Monday because of crew shortages.


Mukilteo-Clinton

One-boat service began with the 5:05 a.m. sailing from Mukilteo.

The reduced service canceled the 5:05 and 6 a.m. sailings from Clinton, as well as the 5:35 and 6:30 a.m. sailings from Mukilteo.

The route will remain on one-boat service Monday, according to a service alert issued at 6:50 a.m. WSF reported a 2-hour wait for drivers needing to take the route. 


Anacortes-San Juan Islands

The Anacortes-San Juan Islands route also has multiple canceled sailings because of crew shortages.

The No. 2 Yakima is out of service at the start of the day, canceling the 4:05 a.m. sailing from Anacortes to Friday Harbor, the 5:40 a.m. sailing from Friday Harbor to Lopez and Anacortes, and the 6:25 a.m. sailing from Lopez to Anacortes, among other sailings.

The No. 1 Chelan is also out of service Monday, which canceled several early-morning sailings between Anacortes, Orcas, Shaw, Lopez and other destinations.

The No. 3 Samish made an all-stops sailing at 6:15 a.m. from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and Friday Harbor to transport students and interisland crew. It will continue to service all stops, according to WSF. 

The No. 4 Tillikum will cancel several interisland sailings while traveling to Anacortes to assist with traffic between Anacortes and Friday Harbor. It will enter service beginning with the 8:45 a.m. out of Friday Harbor, according to Washington State Ferries. Interisland service resumes at 2:30 p.m., according to WSF. 


Port Townsend-Coupeville

The No. 1 Kennewick is out of service Monday because of a crew shortage.

Travelers can use the Mukilteo-Clinton routes as alternatives.

WSF said travelers should check its service alerts for updates as crews work to restore service. Disruptions and cancellations could change throughout the morning.


Fauntleroy-Vashon Island-Southworth

The entire route is out of service due to crew shortages. WSF said they continue to try and fill open positions.