Washington State Ferries cancel major sailings amid apparent engineer sick-out

Chaos is gripping Washington State Ferries (WSF) Monday morning, with major ferry runs canceled and thousands of passengers left stranded amid what appears to be a widespread sick-out by ferry engineers.

Dock workers told KIRO Newsradio the cancellations stem from engineers calling out sick as they push for higher wages. WSF has not confirmed that the absences are part of a coordinated sick-out.

A spokesperson said 23 engineers called out sick and their replacements refused to report for duty.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) told KIRO Newsradio traffic reporter Chris Sullivan Sunday that employees are entitled to use sick leave and that the agency honors those absences when workers cannot report. When crew members call out, WSF said it works to find qualified relief workers so sailings can operate safely.

The dispute comes as the contract covering roughly 400 ferry engineers has expired and negotiations with the state continue.

The engineers are seeking a 20% pay increase, which would bring their wages closer to those of workers who serve on the ferries’ decks. 

Engineers keep the vessels’ engines and other critical mechanical systems running, allowing the ferries to move passengers and vehicles safely.

The engineers’ union is legally prohibited from striking, meaning a coordinated walkout would not be a lawful strike.

Last week, when KIRO Newsradio asked the union about an increase in cancellations and concerns over crew shortages, a union spokesperson said, “We are hearing this for the first time, and we are looking into it.”

The union warned in June that staffing levels were already stretched thin and could lead to less reliable ferry service and more canceled sailings.

Vashon pharmacy workers turn to small boats amid ferry shutdown

Pharmacists and other pharmacy workers were forced to find friends with small boats to get them to work on Vashon Island — making sure prescriptions could still be filled.

Chris works at the pharmacy and said the ferry shutdown is putting added pressure on the island’s ability to provide essential services.

“If there is no pharmacist on duty, the pharmacy can’t open, so we were fortunate to get a ride over here today, but if the boats are continuing to be down then it’s hard,” he said.

However, not all workers were able to get a ride, meaning no vaccinations for shingles, COVID-19, or the flu.

“It’s hard, because there is not enough staff,” Chris said. “Can’t really do much, like we had to cancel all the vaccine appointments.”

Spare keys keep Vashon repair shop open as ferry disruptions delay parts

Meanwhile, a spare set of keys helped keep Engels Repair and Towing on Vashon Island open during the ferry disruptions, but parts deliveries from Seattle were delayed.

Paul Engels, who runs and works at his family’s business, said he was stuck in Tacoma. A coworker happened to have his keys and opened the shop.

“It’s upset the parts delivery runs because those come from Seattle, and those boats aren’t running at all,” Engels told KIRO Newsradio. “So the guys that are on the job right now are kind of empty-handed with the parts they need.”

The business has been in his family for 75 years, and he’s seen this kind of thing before.

“It happens over the years, with delays with the boats, or boats being shut down, or boats being broken down,” Engels said. “So you just kind of roll with it. It’ll get back to normalcy soon enough.”

Engels was waiting at Point Defiance for a ferry back to Vashon Island. As of early Monday afternoon, there were about six cars ahead of him.

“You can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Seattle – Bainbridge route

Oct. 5: Route out of service following 5:30 a.m. sailing from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.

Due to a crew shortage, the route will go out of service after the Puyallup’s 5:30 a.m. sailing from Seattle. Updates will be provided as conditions change.

Seattle – Bremerton route

Oct. 5: Down to one-boat service due to the lack of qualified crew.

The No. 2 Chimacum is additionally out of service. Dispatch efforts continue.

All No. 1 sailings will sail as scheduled. Customers may experience loading delays. This will cancel the following sailings: 6:20 a.m. Bremerton to Seattle, 7:35 a.m. Seattle to Bremerton, 8:45 a.m. Bremerton to Seattle, 10 a.m. Seattle to Bremerton, 11:10 a.m. Bremerton to Seattle, and 12:20 p.m. Seattle to Bremerton.

Mukilteo – Clinton route

Oct. 5: Mukilteo-Clinton route is down to one-boat service until 7 a.m.

The Mukilteo/Clinton route will run one-boat service starting Monday, Oct. 5, beginning with the 5:05 a.m. sailing from Mukilteo. This will cancel the 5:05 a.m. and 6 a.m. sailings from Clinton, and the 5:35 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. sailings from Mukilteo.

The route is expected to return to two-boat service with the 7 a.m. sailings. Updates will occur when more information is available.

Port Townsend – Coupeville route

Oct. 5: Service has returned with one boat.

Edmonds – Kingston route

Oct. 5: Sailings canceled due to a crew shortage.

Due to a crew shortage, the Spokane will sail the first two roundtrips and then tie up. The Walla Walla will sail one roundtrip and then tie up. The route will be out of service following the 7:10 a.m. sailing from Edmonds.

The following sailings will sail: 5:30 a.m. and 6:25 a.m. from Kingston; 5:35 a.m., 6:15 a.m., and 7:10 a.m. from Edmonds.

Updates will be provided as conditions change.

Anacortes – San Juan Islands route

Oct. 5: Sailings canceled due to a lack of crew. The No. 2 Yakima will be out of service at the start of the day due to a lack of crew.

This cancels the following vessel No. 2 sailings: 4:05 a.m. Anacortes to Friday Harbor, 5:40 a.m. Friday Harbor to Lopez and Anacortes, 6:25 a.m. Lopez to Anacortes and other vessel No. 2 sailings.

The No. 1 Chelan may be out of service at the start of the day, canceling: 5:30 a.m. Anacortes to Orcas, 6:50 a.m. Orcas to Shaw, 7:05 a.m. Shaw to Lopez, and 7:35 a.m. Lopez to Anacortes and other vessel No. 1 sailings.

The No. 3 Samish will sail all stops for the 6:15 a.m. sailing from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and Friday Harbor, to transport students and take Interisland crew to Friday Harbor.

This cancels the following No. 4 Tillikum interisland sailings: 6:05 a.m. Friday Harbor to Lopez, 6:50 a.m. Lopez to Shaw, 7:20 a.m. Shaw to Orcas, and 7:40 p.m. Orcas to Friday Harbor.

The Interisland vessel is expected to return to service with the 8:45 a.m. Friday Harbor to Orcas No. 4 Tillikum will assist with Anacortes-Friday Harbor traffic.

New reservations and changes are blocked for Monday, and no-show fees are waived. Reservation holders on canceled sailings will be accommodated on other departures on a first-come, first-served basis.

For up-to-the-minute updates, go here.

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