What Crew Members Say About Wsf-Spokane

On February 20, 2024, Washington State Ferries announced that the 'Spokane', which operates on the Edmonds-Kingston route, has encountered a significant issue with a bent propeller blade. As a result, the vessel has been temporarily removed from service in Kingston for necessary repairs. This unfortunate incident has led to the implementation of a one-ship service in the night leading into February 21, impacting travel plans for many passengers relying on this route.

Travelers on the Edmonds-Kingston ferry route are facing significant delays as the Washington State Ferries (WSF) vessel 'Spokane' remains out of commission. The ferry was taken offline on the morning of September 13, 2023, due to a mechanical malfunction that necessitated repairs. As a result, the service continued to operate with one less ferry, leading to longer wait times for passengers. The situation did not improve on September 14 and 15, with the route operating on an alternate sailing schedule. On September 13, some travelers experienced wait times of up to three hours, while long lines were already forming the following day. Early reports on September 15 indicated a wait time of approximately one hour at the Kingston terminal as commuters adjusted to the reduced service.

On the morning of September 13, 2023, the ferry 'Spokane,' which operates between Edmonds and Kingston, was taken out of service due to mechanical complications. The vessel was sidelined in Kingston, leading to a significant 90-minute backlog at the Edmonds terminal and over three hours of wait time for travelers. The exact nature of the mechanical issues remains unclear, as crews worked diligently to diagnose the problems and assess whether the ferry would require shipyard repairs. In an effort to return the ferry to operation, crews conducted a three-hour test in the afternoon but encountered recurring issues linked to the speed regulator onboard. Unfortunately, plans to deploy an alternative ferry for the route were not in place, implying that delays would continue for the remainder of the day. As the Edmonds-Kingston route was limited to a single operating vessel, departures were stretched to approximately 1.5 hours apart. Commuters seeking to avoid further delays were advised to consider alternative ferry crossings or take a southern route over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.