Full Breakdown
Washington State Ferries Face Massive Service Disruptions Due to Crew Shortage
By Drooid · · How we work
Scope of the Disruption
On Monday morning, Washington State Ferries (WSF) reported that 13 of its 18 vessels—about 72 % of the fleet—were out of service, leaving many routes either canceled or reduced to a single boat. Affected routes included Anacortes–San Juan Islands, Port Townsend–Coupeville, Edmonds–Kingston, Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, Mukilteo–Clinton, Seattle–Bremerton, and Seattle–Bainbridge. Riders were directed to the agency’s Travel Alert Bulletins and real-time vessel-tracking page for updates.
Background and Recent Labor Tensions
All 23 absent workers belong to the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, the union representing roughly 400 engine-room employees at WSF. The union has been negotiating a new contract for the July 2025 – June 2027 period, seeking pay parity with deck workers after previous contracts delivered only modest annual wage increases. In 2024, the union warned that chronic overtime and staffing shortfalls had caused “burnout” and contributed to prior large-scale cancellations.
Data & Statistics
- 23 engine-room employees called in sick on the day of the disruption.
- Base salary for chief engineers is $157,000 per year, with overtime potential exceeding $350,000.
- The union’s membership of about 400 engine-room workers represents the core crew needed to operate the vessels.
Official Statements & Responses
The agency added that every qualified employee who was contacted declined the shift, forcing the cancellations. Governor Bob Ferguson acknowledged the impact on “thousands of Washingtonians” and said he is in talks with ferry system leadership to address the situation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I understand that thousands of Washingtonians are deeply impacted by what’s happening with our ferries,” — Gov. Bob Ferguson
- “We are investigating what may be contributing to the number of callouts and difficulty in filling the open positions,” — Washington State Ferries