Washington's ferry system is in the middle of one of the largest transitions in its history.
Washington's ferry system is in the middle of one of the largest transitions in its history.
The state is building three new hybrid-electric ferries, the first major additions to the fleet in years. But ferry leaders say the challenge extends far beyond launching new boats. Their immediate task is maintaining reliable service with an aging fleet that has little room for unexpected breakdowns.
Today, Washington State Ferries operates 21 vessels, though officials say the system functions best with 24.
"Our biggest constraint at the moment is the number of vessels," Washington State Ferries Executive Director Steve Nevey said in an interview with KOMO News.
That shortage has become increasingly significant as ferries age out of service faster than they can be replaced.
The current fleet reflects decades of underinvestment in vessel construction, according to ferry leaders.
Between 2000 and 2030, Washington will have added just seven new ferries, even as demand for ferry service has continued to grow. Eleven vessels currently in service are more than 40 years old, and many are approaching retirement age.
A ferry shortage has become increasingly significant as ferries age out of service faster than they can be replaced. FILE: A Washington State Ferry at a terminal. (KOMO)The consequences of operating a smaller fleet are felt throughout the system.
"When one boat experiences an unplanned outage, the effects can spread quickly across multiple routes," Nevey said.
Retired ferry captain Ken Burtness, who spent more than four decades working on Washington ferries, says the system once had enough flexibility to expand service and absorb disruptions. Today, he sees a network operating with far fewer options.
"Washington State Ferries is maxed out," Burtness said.
Construction recently began on the Wishkah, one of three new hybrid-electric ferries scheduled to enter service between 2030 and 2032.
The vessels are expected to improve reliability and provide additional capacity, but ferry officials acknowledge that the three boats alone will not solve the state's long-term needs.
Current projections show that by 2040, eleven ferries in today's fleet will have reached retirement age, creating pressure to continue building vessels beyond those already under construction.
For now, ferry managers face two competing priorities: replacing aging boats while also investing in the vessels currently carrying passengers.
That means extending the lifespan of ferries that were never designed to operate this long.
"Anything's possible if you're willing to pay for the steel repairs, the propulsion upgrades and all of the work that's going to need to happen to keep those vessels going," Nevey said.
For passengers, ferry reliability is more than a transportation issue.
Orcas Island resident Ana Zier, who is expecting her first child, relies on ferries for weekly trips into Seattle for medical appointments and work. She says schedule disruptions carry real consequences for people who depend on the system.
A ferry shortage has become increasingly significant as ferries age out of service faster than they can be replaced. FILE: A Washington State Ferry at a terminal. (KOMO)"It's just a daily part of life and sort of a lifeline," Zier said.
Congresswoman Emily Randall says stories like Zier's illustrate why ferry service remains essential to communities throughout western Washington.
"I think about how essential the ferries are to the fabric of our community in so many ways getting to the doctor, getting to school, getting to see grandparents," Randall said.
Randall's bipartisan FERRIES Act, currently making its way through Congress, would help states compete for federal funding for ferry terminals, maintenance and technology, though it would not directly fund new vessels.
"Our biggest concern is capital construction...making sure that we have the new boats we need, and that the boats we have on the water are able to stay shipshape so we can keep reliable service," Randall said.
State leaders remain optimistic that the fleet can make it through the transition, but acknowledge that the coming years will be difficult.
Three ferries are on the way. More will eventually be needed.
Until then, Washington's ferry system will be balancing two competing goals at once: preserving the vessels passengers rely on today while building the fleet it will need tomorrow.
For the millions of riders who depend on ferries each year, the hope is simple: that the boats they count on today can keep running long enough for the next generation to arrive.
