Ferry rules: Yield for whales
Dec 18, 2015, 11:45 PM | Updated: May 7, 2016, 11:46 pm
It’s the most adorable traffic delay ever, but you should know, Washington State Ferries stop for whales.
Just weeks after the confirmation of a new baby orca near Seattle, yet another was sighted near San Juan Island.
NOAA and the Center for Whale Research have confirmed the addition to J-pod. It has been named J54, oddly enough, you won’t find that on the most popular baby name list. With the birth of J54, the total number of new orcas in 2015 is eight.
Related: Yet another baby orca joins the Puget Sound population
Before you roll your eyes and mutter, “who cares?” You should know that this baby whale is so powerful, it could easily stop your commute.
Ian Sterling from Washington State Ferries says, “Our official rule is that we are on a “not to interfere status” with all whales in Puget Sound. If we see them while we are underway, we cannot impede their progress. This sometimes requires us to slow or stop our vessels.”
Captains will often notify ferry passengers and will even point out whales so you can get out your phone and snap away. So if whales are present, accept the fact you’ll be a few minutes late and consider yourself lucky as it’s the cheapest whale watching adventure in town.
