SEATTLE — Ferry passengers from San Juan to Seattle will face a difficult ride, if any at all, due to crew shortages at Washington State Ferries (WSF).
Some itineraries are operated by only one boat or canceled entirely.
The WSF said the problem was a lack of qualified crew due to sickness call-outs.
In a series of social media posts, the WSF said 23 engine room employees called in sick Monday morning.
“When a crew member calls us, we work to find a qualified replacement employee to fill the position so that navigation can operate safely,” WSF said in a statement. “Our dispatchers receive hundreds of requests for help every day.”
This sign was placed on a kiosk at Seattle’s Colman Dock terminal on the morning of October 5, 2026. (KOMO)
And when WSF contacts employees about replacing shifts, they can choose to accept or decline the work.
The agency said all employees qualified to fill these positions “refused to fill them and operate the ferries.”
WSF said that as a result, 13 of the 18 ferries are currently not in service, representing 72% of the entire fleet.
“We understand how disruptive this is to thousands of Washingtonians. We hope our employees return to work as soon as possible,” WSF said.
A Colman Dock rider told KOMO News Monday morning that when they were turned away for a sailing in Bremerton, a dockworker told them it was due to a “silent strike.”
“We are working to fill these positions and maintain safe service. Management is aware of the situation and is exploring all options. We are investigating what could be contributing to the number of calls and the difficulty in filling vacant positions,” the FSM statement said.
As of 11 a.m., affected routes that are canceled or operating with only one boat include:
- Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth
Due to the changing nature of service interruptions, passengers should check the Washington State Ferries Travel Alerts page for the most up-to-date route information.
You can also check the WSF’s real-time vessel tracking page.
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