Ferguson delays hybrid-electric conversion of 2 of the state’s largest ferries

SEATTLE — Gov. Bob Ferguson announced the hybrid conversion of two of the state’s largest ferries will be delayed until after the World Cup in the summer of 2026, when matches will be played in Seattle.

Washington State Ferries (WSF) electrification plans will be revisited after the event.

However, Ferguson said the delay is part of a plan to fully restore domestic ferry service by this summer, as converting the ferries removes them from service for an extended period.

For example, the Wenatchee, the first WSF boat to undergo conversion, will have been out of service for at least 22 months by the time the conversion is completed this summer.

By keeping the other two ferries that will undergo conversion in service for now, WSF will have 18 operating vessels in the water this summer for the first time since 2019. Full domestic service is considered to be 21 boats with 18 in the water at any time, the governor’s office said.

For years, WSF has been plagued with aging boats, mechanical failures, and staff shortages, which have caused sailing cancellations and unreliable service.

Ferguson confirms the boats coming back into service starting this summer will be added to the Seattle-Bremerton, Port Townsend-Coupville, and Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth routes.

Bremerton commuters told KOMO News this addition could save them hours as they sometimes wait more than two hours between boats, and this could also bring more people to spend money in Bremerton, especially during the World Cup.

“We’ve been waiting for the electric ferries for, what, five years now?” stated Bill Delarber of Seattle. “It’s time to put that on the back burner and actually get the ferries running and revisit that a little bit later.”

“There’s a lot more ferries that go to Bainbridge, but there are fewer [ferries] and it’s much longer to go to Bremerton, so we really need it for people who live on the south side,” added Christina Ho from Seattle.

Ferguson claims there are enough staff for 18 vessels to run at one time. Newly-appointed Deputy Transportation Secretary Steve Nevey added there are state-funded scholarships and training programs designed to keep people in the ferry system. He said those appear to be working based on ferry sailing cancelations data, with fewer reported cancelations this year so far compared to the same time frame last year, with 42 cancelations compared to 147, respectively.

SEE ALSO | Washington State Ferries answers concerns about staffing issues, sailing cancellations

The process to get as many as five new electric ferries is ongoing, with WSF opening bids from prospective shipbuilders in early April. WSF plans to sign a contract with at least one by late May.

The first two new hybrid-electric vessels are expected to be in service in 2028, with three more ferries by 2030, according to WSF’s project overview page.

The shift to hybrid-electric ferries comes from former Gov. Jay Inslee and the Washington Legislature, aligning with WSF’s Long Range Plan, according to WSF.

WSF is the largest ferry system in the country. Following direction from the state legislature and the governor, WSF will rebuild and modernize its fleet and convert the system to hybrid-electric power by 2040.