Ferry Weekend Update 10/9
No Second 11:15 a.m. Sailings Monday through Wednesday Next Week
There will be no second 11:15 a.m. sailings Monday, October 12 through Wednesday, October 14. Staff will be conducting maintenance during the lunch breaks, and the vessel will re-fuel on Tuesday.
Apron Flaps Replacement Project and FAQs
The Ferry Division will be replacing the flaps on the Anacortes and Guemes Island bridge aprons October 19 - October 23, 2026.
This project is estimated to take five days. Most work will occur overnight to help keep daytime service running as smoothly as possible. During this time, the regular car ferry will operate in a passenger‑only configuration. Vehicles cannot be carried while the aprons are under repair. We appreciate your patience as we complete this important safety work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the ferry operate on the normal sailing schedule?
The ferry will operate on the ferry’s normal sailing schedule, which can be found on our website.
Will the ferry operate out of the regular ferry terminals?
The ferry will continue using the regular Anacortes and Guemes Island terminals, operating in a passenger‑only configuration.
Will the ferry be able to land when the aprons are being worked on?
During our normal schedule, the ferry will be able to land at both docks, but no vehicles can be accommodated. All apron work will happen overnight, so the ferry cannot land outside of regular operating hours.
What about after‑hours emergency service?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide after‑hours emergency service during this five‑day period.
Will motorcycles and bicycles be allowed?
Small, lightweight motorcycles may be permitted at the crew’s discretion. Larger, heavier motorcycles cannot be supported by the loading gangway. Bicycles are welcome.
Will there be bus or shuttle service on the island?
Skagit Transit will not be offering shuttle service during this outage. We recognize this may be inconvenient and appreciate your understanding.
Can I carry portable gasoline containers on the ferry during this time?
No. Portable gasoline containers (even if empty) must travel in vehicles, so they cannot be transported during the passenger‑only period.
Kudos to the Ferry Crew!
This week, you may have noticed fog lingering for several days as you drove around the county or even just on Guemes Island. Our captains and crew had a few long days navigating through fog so thick that sometimes they could barely see beyond the end of the terminals!
We are incredibly fortunate to have skilled captains, vigilant deckhands, and reliable equipment. Navigating in heavy fog is nothing new in the maritime world, but it requires training, calm judgment, and constant attention to every detail. Thanks to their experience, our operators and crew were able to maintain safe, timely, and reliable ferry service throughout the challenging conditions
Photos are of the Anacortes terminal. Photo credit: Lee Fisher and Van Bowling.
Ferry Internet Outage
The ferry terminal’s internet runs on fiber, a high‑speed communication line that uses tiny strands of glass to transmit data as pulses of light. Fiber is extremely fast and reliable, but like any physical infrastructure, it can be damaged. Our connection is provided and maintained by a third‑party service provider.
On Sunday, October 4, the ferry terminal lost internet service for nearly two full days. The cause was significant squirrel damage inside a cabinet that supports the Anacortes terminal. This unexpected damage took down our network, ticketing kiosk, and all our cameras, including the public webcams many riders rely on.
Even with this disruption, our ticketing system proved its value. Because most riders now purchase tickets online or through the mobile app in advance, we were able to continue ticketing with minimal interruption. And for riders who needed to purchase tickets in person, our office remained fully able to serve them using our backup equipment, which operates independent of the terminal’s internet connection.
This outage was an excellent reminder of how resilient the current ticketing system has been for our ferry system. The software and equipment performed exactly as designed and kept service moving, allowed passengers to board without delay, and ensured we could still support those purchasing tickets on‑site.
We appreciate everyone’s patience as repairs were completed, and we’re grateful to have systems, and riders, that can adapt so smoothly when surprises come our way.
