WASHINGTON STATE – Staffing shortages have Washington State Ferries operating on an Alternate Sailing Schedule on most routes until further notice.
On the DOT website, ferry officials are blaming “crewing shortages due to a global shortage of mariners that has been worsened by the pandemic”.
But on October 8, 28 ferry workers who oppose Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate called in sick, forcing the cancellation of more than 150 ferry crossings, according to a WSF spokesperson. As of Monday, the mandate deadline, about 200 of the approximately 1,400 ferry workers still had not reported their vaccination status and presumably have been fired.
The following changes to service are in effect:
- Seattle/Bainbridge, Edmonds/Kingston and Mukilteo/Clinton: One-boat service instead of two
- Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: Daily two-boat schedule instead of three
- Anacortes/San Juan Islands: Daily three-boat schedule instead of four with no vehicle reservations
The updated schedules are currently listed as “inactive” on the schedule page online and will become active when they begin.