Representing Lopez Island on the County's Ferry Advisory Committee for many years, retired WSF captain Ken Burtness is raising the alarm over the ferry system's aging fleet and slow release of additional funds for new boats. From last year's legislative session, the state legislature allocated funds for up to three new vessels (to be commissioned in 2030, 2031, and 2032) and the contract has been awarded to Eastern Shipyards in Florida. By the end of that time, according to WSF's data, four to five vessels will have reached or passed their retirement age (looking at you dear Tillikum!), with six more over the decade following.

This past legislative session, Gov. Ferguson requested $1.5 billion to fund three additional vessels and maintenance to extend the working life of existing ones, but the funds were not allocated by the legislature. Each new vessel costs approximately $330,000,000. The 18 new vessels being built for BC Ferries are cheaper as they are built overseas, which is prohibited for US operators by the Jones Act. As we know, aging vessels will break down more frequently and finding replacement parts gets more and more difficult, impacting reliability.

Read more about this and watch an interview with Ken at CNL3: "Retired WSF Captain: ‘In 10 years time, WSF will be crippled’ by a lack of vessels". This is all in the context of numerous areas of infrastructure that need significant maintenance, repair, and replacement: "Guest Opinion | When growth ends and maintenance begins" (The Orcasonian).

UPDATED (in italics) April 12, 2026 - Washington State Ferries (WSF) has issued a contract termination letter to Anchor Operations and Reservations Tech Systems for the Ticketing and Reservation Modernization Project (TRM). Anchor was selected as the vendor in January 2025. Over the past year, the project has encountered significant delays and technical issues. According to WSF, approximately $773,000 was paid to Anchor, with an estimated reuse of about $432,000 of work completed. These figures do not include the cost of WSF staff assigned to the project nor that of the 3rd party quality assurance contractor.

The San Juan County FAC has previously asked in regular meetings that the project team engage in user testing of the product under development by local community members—something which has not happened to date. While WSF has indicated that they will be breaking the project into smaller modules for development and release, they have not yet indicated what kind of procurement process will take place or if work will be done internally as it was with the system we have now. New components are expected to be released starting late 2027 or early 2028 at the earliest. To date, a revised RFI/RFP has not been released.

Recent press about this contract termination includes an article in the Salish Current: "Collision course: Washington State Ferries terminates contract for streamlining reservations" in which County Councilmembers Fuller, McVeigh, and Paulsen (Chair) are quoted; and from the Journal of the San Juans:

”Ferry reservation modernization project sinks after contract cancellation”

Questions about this should be addressed to WSF Communications: wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov

Full text of WSF's announcement below:

Sent: Friday, March 6, 2026 4:43 PM
Subject: TRM Vendor Update

Good afternoon,

I’m writing to let you know that this afternoon Washington State Ferries issued a contract termination letter to Anchor Operating System, the vendor for the Ticketing and Reservations Modernization project, so we will be looking for a new vendor.

While we’ve made great progress on replacing our existing ticketing and reservations systems, the project has seen many challenges, including two delays in 2025. We need to find a vendor, or set of vendors, who can provide a reliable system that performs well for our customers and employees, and has the technical support needed for our daily operations.

Moving forward, we’ll restructure the project into smaller, more manageable components to minimize risk and disruption to WSF operations. While we don’t yet have a clear timeline for project implementation, we anticipate that our customers will start having an improved online experience in late 2027 or early 2028, at the earliest.

I want to recognize all the WSF employees who’ve worked very hard on this project, spending months working through challenges with the vendor. Much of the work completed with will still be used, helping us start future project work on a solid foundation.

Lastly, I know this is disappointing news for customers and community partners who were looking forward to more modern, upgraded systems, especially those on our routes that take vehicle reservations. This was not an easy or quick decision, but we’re confident that it is the best decision to ensure a successful project.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Cheers, Tally
Tally Teal (she/her)
Community and Legislative Liaison
Washington State Ferries

March 9, 2026 - Washington State Ferries (WSF) has issued a contract termination letter to Anchor Operations and Reservations Tech Systems for the Ticketing and Reservation Modernization Project (TRM). Anchor was selected as the vendor in January 2025. Over the past year, the project has encountered significant delays and technical issues. The San Juan County FAC has previously asked in regular meetings that the project team engage in user testing of the product under development by local community members—something which has not happened to date. While WSF has indicated that they will be breaking the project into smaller modules for development and release, they have not yet indicated what kind of procurement process will take place or if work will be done internally as it was with the system we have now. New components are expected to be released starting late 2027 or early 2028 at the earliest.

Questions about this should be addressed to WSF Communications: wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov

Full text of WSF's announcement below:

Sent: Friday, March 6, 2026 4:43 PM
Subject: TRM Vendor Update

Good afternoon,

I’m writing to let you know that this afternoon Washington State Ferries issued a contract termination letter to Anchor Operating System, the vendor for the Ticketing and Reservations Modernization project, so we will be looking for a new vendor.

While we’ve made great progress on replacing our existing ticketing and reservations systems, the project has seen many challenges, including two delays in 2025. We need to find a vendor, or set of vendors, who can provide a reliable system that performs well for our customers and employees, and has the technical support needed for our daily operations.

Moving forward, we’ll restructure the project into smaller, more manageable components to minimize risk and disruption to WSF operations. While we don’t yet have a clear timeline for project implementation, we anticipate that our customers will start having an improved online experience in late 2027 or early 2028, at the earliest.

I want to recognize all the WSF employees who’ve worked very hard on this project, spending months working through challenges with the vendor. Much of the work completed with will still be used, helping us start future project work on a solid foundation.

Lastly, I know this is disappointing news for customers and community partners who were looking forward to more modern, upgraded systems, especially those on our routes that take vehicle reservations. This was not an easy or quick decision, but we’re confident that it is the best decision to ensure a successful project.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Cheers, Tally

Tally Teal (she/her)
Community and Legislative Liaison
Washington State Ferries

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA February 20, 2026 - Recent discussions with WSF at the County's monthly SJC Ferry Advisory Committee meetings and during WSF's own Community Meetings of January 21,2026, have provided some County-specific information to highlight:

• The Anacortes terminal building is in the queue for a "facelift" and the study for this has begun.
• Preliminary work is starting on getting the vessel Chelan re-certified for “Safety of Life at Sea” (SOLAS), which includes Coast Guard waivers to be able to make international trips in protected waters; plan for the Sidney run is still for 2030 when an additional vessel is available.
• Governor Ferguson's ask of the legislature for ferries includes $150M to refurbish the oldest vessels: the Tillikum, Kaleetan, and Yakima. This is in addition to the $1B for three vessels above the current 2+ under contract. Refurbishing the older vessels will allow WSF to keep them in service even after the first three new vessels arrive to gain ground in the fleet.
• Missed vehicle allotments on Lopez during disruptions has been addressed by operations.
• There has been no policy change eliminating cash payments. In limited situations (for example, online or kiosk), cash isn’t an option simply because those channels require electronic payment, but in-person ticketing continues to accept cash.

• Confirm that 3% credit card cost recovery fee will stay the same in the updated ticketing and reservation system (TRM). The 3% credit card cost recovery fee is not changing with the TRM project. TRM does not change fare policies or procedures, it’s just modernizing the technology that supports ticketing and reservations.

• Anacortes Terminal Camera: The broken camera has been replaced, and the view on the website should look normal again!
  
  
  
  
  
  

Two private companies have two, quite different, proposals for offering WSF some relief to its vessel shortage. Stabbert Maritime, a Seattle-based shipyard with a second facility in Anacortes, is proposing to refurbish two now-retired WSF vessels and then lease them back to WSF for 15 years. Meanwhile, Switch Maritime out of San Francisco, is showing off its emissions-free hydrogen powered ferries, specifically for the SJI routes! Full article from Washington State Standard, “Shipyard pitches bringing back retired state ferries to bolster strained service”.

"'I’m all for giving it a really good hearing," San Juan County Councilmember Justin Paulsen said. "We are at a point where we have to really do some creative thinking," was Paulsen’s takeaway. "We need to progress forward in a faster way."

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA January 14, 2026 - Due to lack of previous investment in new vessels and the impending retirement of others (11 in the next 15 years), there are local concerns that the Washington State Ferry system will face about a decade of fleet shortfall with likely disruptions in service. While crewing has improved in the last few years, the number of available vessels has not, and the system has no "standby" boats.

"It’s safe to say that we have yet another decade of very concerning service levels across the Washington State Ferry system, not just San Juan County, but across the system. There is no quick fix," said San Juan County Council member Justin Paulsen in a recent interview in the Journal of the San Juan's article, "San Juan Islands brace for decade of ferry uncertainty despite billion-dollar state investment | New boats won’t serve islands; aging vessels and service disruptions are 'the new normal,' officials warn."

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA January 14, 2026 - Washington State Ferries has been working with contractor Anchor Operating Systems to update the ferry system's ticketing and reservation platform. The project is delayed and the first route to pilot the new system will be Coupeville/Port Townsend, now planned for late 2026. So far, there has been no user testing of the product under development, and this has caused concerns. Reporter Darrell Kirk of the Journal of the San Juans has talked with locals about their concerns and produced this article: "Critics question ferry reservation system developers lack of user testing".

Just today, WSF announced at the County's FAC meeting that they will likely be showing the new system to the public for review, but not user testing, in the next month.

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 17, 2025 – Washington State Ferries (WSF) will upgrade equipment at the Lopez and Orcas Island ferry terminals in spring 2027. A portion of this maintenance requires 48-hour service closures. WSF is interested in learning which days islanders would prefer to close the terminals on Lopez and Orcas.

San Juan County is helping gather community feedback regarding the best timing for these closures. Please take this quick survey to provide your input to WSF: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information/surveys/ferry-terminal-closure-dates-2027-2

What is the vehicle transfer span?

The vehicle transfer span is the part of the slip that raises and lowers to meet up with the ferry, allowing vehicles to drive on and off the vessel. The planned work replaces the major mechanical and electrical systems that raise and lower the span. While those components are being repaired, the transfer span will not function.

Why do we need to do this work?

The mechanical lift systems at the Anacortes, Lopez, and Orcas terminals have been in operation for several decades and are at the end of their life spans.

Upgrading the VTS systems improves safety for crews and reliability for passengers. It also standardizes operations for our terminal and vessel staff who rotate among terminals.

WSF will sequence the work to move from one terminal to the next to keep consistency of work crews and minimize passenger disruption. (See map showing the order of the upgrades.)

Why the full shutdown of ferry service?

The items of the transfer span that are to be replaced—lift beam, head frame, counterweights, and cables—are major structural and mechanical components of the ferry slip. The slip cannot operate without them.

Learn more about the systemwide vehicle transfer span update here: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/24192/widgets/80942/documents/73912

Your feedback on closure timing is greatly appreciated! Please take this quick, four-question survey to provide your input to WSF: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information/surveys/ferry-terminal-closure-dates-2027-2

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SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA, October 15, 2025 - Starting November 1, 2025, WSF will require anyone driving or towing a damaged EV/Hybrid to arrive at the terminals with a Transport Form for Damaged Electric and Alternative Energy Vehicles, filled out in its entirety.

• This form will be available on the WSDOT-WSF website and is linked here.
  • If this form is not provided to the seller upon arrival, the driver will be denied passage.
  • If the information is available on another slip, such as a technician slip, the information should be carried over onto the WSF form. Sellers have no responsibility for taking any information a driver provides and putting it onto the form for the driver, but sellers may take on that responsibility depending on how busy they are, staffing, etc.
  • If the form is filled out but the damage looks more severe than the driver is letting on, it is likely that the terminal supervisor and vessel captain will discuss and not allow for transport.
• If the form and vehicle condition match up, the vehicle will be cleared for transport and given a Damaged EVs on Ferries Card for their dashboard, so the vessel knows your vehicle has been vetted and they can act accordingly.
• Tow trucks transporting damaged EV/Hybrids should expect to be loaded last for firefighting response purposes.