Ferry delays blamed on COVID-19 and crew shortages KIRO 7 News Seattle

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More problems have arisen with Washington State Ferries. Some passengers have been waiting hours to exit the San Juan Islands today.

This latest round of delays is due to an engine crew who had to self-quarantine due to COVID-19.

This was especially difficult for those on Lopez Island who simply couldn’t leave the island by ferry.

And they won’t be able to do it before 6:20 p.m. Tuesday night, a delay of about three and a half hours.

These cancellations have ripple effects throughout the ferry system.

The line of vehicles was not particularly long at the Anacortes ferry dock. But the wait was surely, especially for a Tuesday.

We met Erica Jussero, who had a two o’clock reservation. Fifteen minutes later, she and her brood of five were still waiting for the 4-hour boat to Friday Harbor.

They said a few boats were canceled because they didn’t have enough workers, Jussero said. So, I just smiled and tried to take it myself. And the lady said you have a good attitude. So, I try to have a good attitude.

She was certainly not alone.

I’ve never been there, said Keyna Bugner of Ellensburg. I never took the ferry. So, I was surprised it took so long, really.

We were here at noon, said Nora Mitchem, of Newberg, Oregon. So we were here early because you never know. Maybe they’ll leave you earlier.

There was no way for it. After all, the MV Suquamish spent most of the day sitting in the harbor, unable to move because there was no crew at the start to staff her.

Better than a handful of people who have been exposed or quarantined because of COVID, said Ian Sterling.

But the WSF spokesperson said the coronavirus was not the main problem.

The main driver right now is the shortage of skilled seafarers around the world, Sterling said. And we have to compete with the for-profit companies to try to get these people.

Indeed, Sterling said the impact is being felt across all ten ferry routes. But it can be crippling for the San Juan Islands as the ferry is the main way to get there. Yet most of the passengers we spoke to were late in the process.

We weren’t expecting (the delay), said Kirkland’s Lindsay Allan. But we went to play at the beach. Yeah, I was making the most of it.

More than 100 round-trip crossings have been canceled system-wide since February.

But it’s about 45,000 round trips since then.

Sterling said it was certainly the worst he had been in his five years with the ferry system.

But there was good news. The Suquamish left on time with the evening crew.

2021 Cox Media Group

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