Since the start of the summer sailing schedule in June, Washington State Ferries has reported only six cancellations on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route.

Regarding cancellations systemwide between 2023 and 2025, WSF reported between Sept. 1-14, 198 cancellations in 2023, 69 in 2024, and 18 in 2025. Between June 15 and Sept. 14, the agency reported the following cancellations due to crewing: 32 Seattle/Bremerton and 26 on the Faunterly/ Southworth route.

“In 2024, we had the lowest number of canceled sailings since 2020, and a big jump in walk-on passengers fueled the rise in annual ridership. Washington State Ferries’ ridership was approximately 4.35 million during the second quarter of (Fiscal Year) 2025. (Oct–Dec 2024) This was 181,905 (4.4%) more than the same quarter in FY 2024, but 64,453 (1.5%) below projections,” WSF spokesperson Dana Warr said.

In the event of a cancellation due to crewing, WSF dispatch teams work to find replacement crew through a pool of employees who would fill the position with the required credentials, Warr said.

This follows Gov. Bob Ferguson’s March decision to restore 18-boat service by this summer. WSF reported in its service contingency plan in May that, in the event of a lack of crew availability, it may have to cancel additional sailings due to lack of reserve crewmembers. Vessel crewing is dependent on vessel class, with crew ranging from 10 to 16, with between two and three deck shifts and two 12-hour engine room watches a day. WSF estimates systemwide, between 430 and 505 crew are needed every day.