SEATTLE — Ferry riders from the San Juans to Seattle will face a tough commute—or maybe none at all—due to crew shortages at Washington State Ferries (WSF).
Some routes are on one-boat service or entirely canceled.
WSF said the issue is a lack of qualified crew due to sick calls.
In a series of social media posts, WSF said that 23 engine room employees called in sick Monday morning.
“When a crew member calls out, we work to find a qualified relief employee to fill the position so the sailing can operate safely,” WSF said in a statement. “Our dispatchers receive hundreds of requests for relief coverage on a given day.”
This sign was placed on a kiosk at Seattle’s Colman Dock terminal on the morning of Oct. 5, 2026. (KOMO)
And when WSF contacts employees about filling shifts, they can choose to accept or decline the work.
The agency said that every employee qualified to fill those positions “declined to fill them and keep the ferries running.”
WSF stated that as a result, 13 of 18 ferries are currently not in service, or 72% of the entire fleet.
“We understand how disruptive this is to thousands of Washingtonians. We expect our employees to return to work as soon as possible,” WSF said.
One rider at Colman Dock Monday morning told KOMO News that when they were turned away for a Bremerton sailing, they were told by a dock worker that it was due to a “silent strike.”
“We’re focused on filling those positions and maintaining safe service. Management is aware of the situation and exploring all options. We are investigating what may be contributing to the number of callouts and difficulty in filling the open positions,” WSF’s statement said.
As of 11 a.m., the affected routes that are canceled or are on one-boat service include:
Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth
Because of the changing nature of the service disruptions, riders should check the Washington State Ferries Travel Alert Bulletins page for the most up-to-date route information.
You can also check the WSF real-time vessel tracking page.