Washington State Ferries

This article is about the ferry system operated on Puget Sound by the state of Washington. For ferry systems in Washington state operated by other entities, see Ferries in Washington (state).

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is a public ferry system in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and operates 10 routes serving 20 terminals within Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. The routes are designated as part of the state highway system. WSF maintains a fleet of 21 vessels that are able to carry passengers and vehicles.

Washington State Ferries

MV Tacoma at Colman Dock in Downtown Seattle
Locale	Washington
Waterway	Puget Sound, Salish Sea
Transit type	Ferry
Owner	Washington State Department of Transportation
Operator	Washington State Department of Transportation
Began operation	June 1, 1951 (1951-06-01)
No. of lines	10
No. of vessels	21
No. of terminals	20
Daily ridership	44,700 (weekdays, Q4 2024)[1]
Yearly ridership	19,148,800 (2024)[2]
Website	wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries

The ferry system carried a total of 18.66 million riders in 2023—9.69 million passengers and 8.97 million vehicles.^[3] WSF is the largest ferry system in the United States and the second-largest vehicular ferry system in the world behind BC Ferries.^[4] The state ferries carried an average of 44,700 per weekday in the fourth quarter of 2024.^[1]

History

The ferry system has its origins in the "mosquito fleet", a collection of small steamer lines serving the Puget Sound area during the later part of the nineteenth century and early part of the 20th century. By the beginning of the 1930s, two lines remained: the Puget Sound Navigation Company (known as the Black Ball Line) and the Kitsap County Transportation Company. A strike in 1935 caused the KCTC to close, leaving only the Black Ball Line.^[5]

Toward the end of the 1940s, the Black Ball Line sought to increase its fares by 30 percent to compensate for increased wage demands from the ferry workers' unions, which had agreed to a voluntary freeze in increases during World War II. After the state government rejected the fare hike, the company shut down service for nine days in protest.^[6] In 1951, the state bought nearly all of Black Ball's ferry assets for $5 million (Black Ball retained five vessels of its fleet). Washington State Ferries began operation on June 1, 1951.^[7] The state government intended to run ferry service only until cross-sound bridges could be built, but these were never approved and left the ferries as the only means of crossing for vehicles.^[8]

The new system was operated by the Washington State Toll Bridge Authority, which ordered ten new vessels that could carry 60 to 100 vehicles. A set of revenue bonds were also issued to purchase the 16 vessels and 20 terminals of the Puget Sound Navigational Company for a total of $4.94 million. The ten initial routes were reduced to eight by the end of the year.^[9] A route between Port Townsend and Keystone on Whidbey Island was launched in June 1974 to replace a privately-run service that had lost its franchise.^[10] The Toll Bridge Authority was dissolved and replaced by the consolidated Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on September 21, 1977.^[11]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, WSF reduced service on most routes and suspended trips to Sidney on the Anacortes–San Juan Islands route. The loss of workers who retired, transferred, or were fired during the pandemic caused delays and trip cancellations as service and ridership began to recover in 2021 and 2022, while vessel replacement also ran behind schedule.^[12] By early 2023, full levels of service were restored on four routes but remained limited across much of the system; the Sidney route is not expected to re-enter service until 2030.^[13] Staffing issues, particularly among ship captains and mates, continue to prevent the full restoration of service on the Seattle–Bremerton and Fauntleroy–Vashon–Southworth routes.^[14] As mitigation for the delay in restoring the Seattle–Bremerton run's second vessel, WSF funded additional trips on the parallel Kitsap Fast Ferries that serves both terminals.^[15]

Routes

A map showing the routes operated by Washington State Ferries (in red) in comparison with Washington State highways (in yellow) and freeways, including Washington State and Interstate highways (in blue)

WSF has 10 routes that serve 20 terminals in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea in Western Washington.^[4] The busiest route is the Seattle–Bainbridge Island ferry, which carried 4.8 million total riders in 2023; the Mukilteo–Clinton ferry carried 2.1 million total vehicles in 2023, the most of any route.^[3][16]

Route name	Terminals				State route designation[17]	Annual ridership[18]	Annual vehicles carried[19]	Notes
Anacortes–Sidney BC (Service suspended)	Sidney, British Columbia	Friday Harbor, San Juan Island		Anacortes	N/A[20]	0	0	Service suspended until 2030 Only route that operated internationally Only route that is not part of state highway system (Friday Harbor-Sidney, BC segment)
Anacortes–San Juan Islands	Friday Harbor, San Juan Island				SR 20 Spur	1,932,543	921,065	Reservations recommended Not all trips serve all island terminals.
	Lopez Island
	Shaw Island
	Orcas Island
Interisland	Friday Harbor, San Juan Island	Orcas Island	Shaw Island	Lopez Island
Port Townsend–Coupeville	Port Townsend			Coupeville, Whidbey Island	SR 20	686,924	316,823	Reservations recommended
Mukilteo–Clinton	Clinton, Whidbey Island			Mukilteo	SR 525	3,687,297	2,105,628
Edmonds–Kingston	Kingston			Edmonds	SR 104	3,542,142	1,799,911
Seattle–Bainbridge Island	Winslow, Bainbridge Island			Seattle (Colman Dock)	SR 305	4,751,576	1,624,900
Seattle–Bremerton	Bremerton				SR 304	952,875	358,846
Fauntleroy–Vashon	Vashon Island			West Seattle (Fauntleroy)	SR 160	2,200,335	1,324,659	All three services operated together as a "triangle route."
Fauntleroy–Southworth	Southworth
Southworth–Vashon	Southworth			Vashon Island
Point Defiance–Tahlequah	Tahlequah, Vashon Island			Tacoma (Point Defiance)	SR 163	907,842	518,542

Former routes

• Agate Pass, replaced by the Agate Pass Bridge on October 7, 1950^[21]
• Edmonds–Port Ludlow
• Port Gamble–Shine, replaced by South Point route on June 10, 1950^[21]
• Seattle–Suquamish, discontinued on October 1, 1951
• South Point–Lofall, replaced by Hood Canal Bridge in 1961
• Tacoma Narrows, replaced by Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940 but reinstated from 1940 to 1950^[21]

Operations

In 2022, Washington State Ferries had an operating budget of $282.5 million and spent approximately $16.47 per passenger trip.^[22] The system has over 1,500 employees, but had had crew shortages in the early 2020s that have led to sailing cancellations and deferred maintenance.^[23] Onboard food service, primarily through the ship galley and vending machines, is operated by contractor Sodexo Live.^[24]

The agency allows weddings and other celebrations to take place on board ferries, as well as the scattering of cremated remains with advance reservations.^[25]

Fleet

Washington State Ferry Tacoma

The Hyak in Rich Passage heading to Bremerton, WA

The MV Chimacum arrives in Seattle for the first time with passengers on board, on May 24, 2017.

MV Puyallup departing Seattle with the city skyline in the background.

As of 2020^[update], there are 21 ferries in the WSF fleet that serve Puget Sound.^[26] The largest vessels in this fleet carry up to 2500 passengers and 202 vehicles. They are painted in a distinctive white and green trim paint scheme, and feature double-ended open vehicle decks and bridges at each end so that they do not need to turn around.^[27] Most of the ferries feature an outdoor deck with two "pickleforks" where passengers board and disembark the vessel.^[28]

The fleet uses diesel fuel to power its engines and is the largest consumer of diesel fuel in the state government at 19 million gallons used annually prior to 2020;^[29] WSF plans to electrify its fleet over 20 years. By 2040, it intends to build 16 new hybrid-electric vessels and convert six others to have hybrid propulsion. This will reduce carbon emissions by up 180,000 tons annually and save $19 million per year in diesel fuel costs.^[30] The first vessel to undergo conversion to use hybrid-electric propulsion is MV Wenatchee, which is expected to return to service in summer 2025.^[31][32] The program was originally expected to begin in 2022 with a new boat constructed by Vigor Industrial, but cost overruns and disagreements led to delays. Vigor had been the sole shipbuilder for Washington State Ferries since 1997.^[33] Bids for the hybrid-electric ferries, which will carry 164 vehicles and 1,500 passengers, were opened to non-Washingtonian shipbuilders in 2024 with invitations sent to 15 interested companies.^[29]

As of 2023^[update], 9 of the 21 active ferries maintained by Washington State Ferries are considered to be in good condition. Cancellation of sailings due to mechanical problems and urgent maintenance increased in the 2010s and 2020s.^[33]

The ferry fleet consists of the following vessels:^[26]

Class	Ferry name	Year built	Auto capacity	Passenger capacity	Speed	Notes
Evergreen State	MV Tillikum	1959	87	1,061	13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Super	MV Kaleetan	1967	144	1,868	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
	MV Yakima	1967	144	2,000	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Jumbo	MV Spokane	1972	188	2,000	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
	MV Walla Walla	1973	188	2,000	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Issaquah	MV Issaquah	1979	124	1,200	16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)	Auto capacity increased in 1989.
	MV Kittitas	1980	124	1,200	16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)	Auto capacity increased in 1990.
	MV Kitsap	1980	124	1,200	16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)	Auto capacity increased in 1992.
	MV Cathlamet	1981	124	1,200	16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)	Auto capacity increased in 1993.
	MV Chelan	1981	124	1,200 1,090 International	16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)	Auto capacity increased in 2001. Upgraded to meet SOLAS safety standards for international service on Sidney, BC route in 2005.
	MV Sealth	1982	90	1,200	16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Jumbo Mark II	MV Tacoma	1997	202	2,500	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
	MV Wenatchee	1998	202	2,500	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
	MV Puyallup	1999	202	2,500	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Kwa-di Tabil	MV Chetzemoka	2010	64	750	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
	MV Salish	2011	64	750	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
	MV Kennewick	2011	64	750	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Olympic	MV Tokitae	2014	144	1,500	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
	MV Samish	2015	144	1,500	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
	MV Chimacum	2017	144	1,500	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
	MV Suquamish	2018	144	1,500	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)

Retired vessels

MV Illahee was one of the Steel Electric class ferries which were retired in 2007.

MV Kalakala was retired in 1967.

Since the beginning of state-run ferry service in 1951, WSF has retired many vessels as they have become older, too expensive to operate or maintain, or have become too small to provide adequate ferry service. WSF owned passenger-only vessels between 1985 and 2009, but after discontinuing its two passenger-only routes in the 2000s, WSF has sold its passenger-only ferries to other operators.

Below is a list of ferries that WSF has retired since 1951. Unless otherwise noted, all vessels introduced in 1951 were acquired from the Puget Sound Navigation Company (PSN), also known as the Black Ball Line, when the state took over the company's routes and ferryboats in Puget Sound.

Washington State Ferries retired fleet^[34]

Ferry name	Class	Year built (rebuilt)	Year in service	Year retired	Auto capacity	Passenger capacity	Notes
MV Chippewa	None	1900 (1928/ 1932)	1951	1964	52	950	Converted to a car ferry in 1926
MV Leschi	None	1913	1951	1967	40	453	Previously owned by King County and used on Lake Washington
SS San Mateo	None	1922	1951	1969	50	659	Purchased by PSN in 1941
SS Shasta	None	1922	1951	1958	55	468	Purchased by PSN in 1941
MV Rosario	None	1923 (1931)	1951	1951	33	312
MV Kitsap (1925)	Anderson	1925	1951	1961	32	325
MV Crosline	None	1925 (1947)	1951	1967	30	300	Purchased by the state in 1947
MV Kehloken	Wood Electric	1926	1951	1972	50	770	Purchased by PSN in 1940
MV Kalakala	None	1926 (1935)	1951	1967	110	1943	Originally built as MV Peralta in 1926; rebuilt as Kalakala in 1935 using Peralta's hull
MV Enetai	Steel Electric	1927	1951	1967	90	1500	Purchased by PSN in 1940 and converted to a single-ended ferry
MV Willapa	Steel Electric	1927	1951	1967	90	1500	Purchased by PSN in 1940 and converted to a single-ended ferry
MV Chetzemoka (1927)	Wood Electric	1927	1951	1973	50	400	Purchased by PSN in 1938
MV Quinault	Steel Electric	1927 (1958/ 1985)	1951	2007	59	616	Purchased by PSN in 1940
MV Illahee	Steel Electric	1927 (1958/ 1986)	1951	2007	59	616	Purchased by PSN in 1940
MV Nisqually	Steel Electric	1927 (1958/ 1987)	1951	2007	59	616	Purchased by PSN in 1940
MV Klickitat	Steel Electric	1927 (1958/ 1981)	1951	2007	64	412	Purchased by PSN in 1940
MV Klahanie	Wood Electric	1928	1951	1972	50	601	Purchased by PSN in 1940
MV Skansonia	None	1929	1951	1969	32	465	Operated under a state contract since 1940 after the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed
MV Vashon	Anderson	1930	1951	1980	50	646
MV Olympic	None	1938	1954	1993	55	605	Purchased by WSF in 1954
MV Rhododendron	None	1947 (1990)	1954	2012	48	546	Purchased by WSF in 1954, sold to Atlantic Capes Fisheries in 2013
MV Evergreen State	Evergreen State	1954 (1988)	1954	2016	87	854
MV Kulshan	None	1954	1970	1982	65	350	Purchased by WSF in 1970, sold in 1982 and renamed MV Governor
MV Klahowya	Evergreen State	1958 (1995)	1958	2017	87	792
MV Hyak	Super	1966	1967	2019	144	2000
MV Hiyu	None	1967	1967	2016	34	199
MV Elwha	Super	1967 (1991)	1968	2020	144	1069	Upgraded to meet SOLAS standards for Sidney, BC. Sold to Everett Ship Repair, which plans to convert it into floating office and warehouse space.[35]
MV Tyee	None	1985	1985	2003	0	250	Operating as M/V Glacier Express in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska as of 2013[36][37]
MV Kalama	Skagit/Kalama	1989	1989	2009	0	230	Sold in 2011
MV Skagit	Skagit/Kalama	1989	1989	2009	0	230	Sold in 2011; capsized on July 18, 2012
MV Chinook	Passenger-Only Fast Ferry	1998	1998	2008	0	350	Sold to Golden Gate Ferries, renamed MV Golden Gate
MV Snohomish	Passenger-Only Fast Ferry	1999	1999	2008	0	350	Sold to Golden Gate Ferries, renamed MV Napa

See also

• United States portal
• Transport portal

• Alaska Marine Highway
• BC Ferries
• Ferries in Washington (state)
• Inter-Island Ferry Authority
• Keller Ferry
• King County Water Taxi
• Kitsap Fast Ferries