In the News: "San Juan Islands brace for decade of ferry uncertainty"

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."