Annual Drydock Maintenance
Public Works | Ferry Division
♦ THE NEXT FERRY DRYDOCK WILL BE SPRING 2027 ♦
Ferry Drydock Overview
Drydock periods are routine maintenance intervals required to keep the vessel in safe and reliable operating condition. During drydock, the ferry is removed from the water so crews can inspect structures, perform maintenance that cannot be completed while afloat, and carry out mandatory regulatory inspections. Per the Certificate of Inspection (COI) for the M/V GUEMES, the vessel must drydock every two years. The next ferry drydock will be in spring, 2027 for an estimated 4-6 weeks.
Why Drydock Is Necessary
- Safety Compliance: Ferries undergo inspection to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
- Preventative Maintenance: Drydock allows crews to examine the hull, deck, machinery, and internal voids for wear, corrosion, or damage.
- Equipment Servicing: Engines, driveline components, generators, and hydraulic systems receive servicing, repairs, or replacement as needed.
- Painting & Preservation: The hull and other exterior and interior surfaces are cleaned, repaired, and repainted to protect the vessel against corrosion.
What Happens During a Typical Drydock?
- Full inspection of hull, propulsion systems, structural steel, mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems.
- Cleaning, blasting, and repainting of surfaces inside and outside the vessel.
- Refurbishment of engines and major mechanical components.
- Testing of safety systems, navigation equipment, and emergency gear.
- Updating or fabricating new structural elements, when required.
- Completion of regulatory tests and certifications in coordination with USCG Inspectors before the vessel is cleared to return to service.
Service Impacts
While the vessel is in drydock, vehicle ferry service is temporarily suspended. Passenger-only service is provided between the ferry’s regular loading docks.
- The passenger-only service operates on the ferry’s regular sailing schedule.
- Bicycles or small motorcycles may be allowed on a space-available basis at the discretion of the Captain.
- Hazardous materials (including personal gas cans and propane bottles) cannot be transported on the passenger‑only vessel.
Rider Tips
- Plan ahead for the ferry outage. Stay updated through official county announcements, email or text alerts, and posted notices at terminals.
- Check schedules frequently, as passenger‑only service is impacted by weather in different ways than the vehicle ferry.
- Allow extra travel time near ferry terminals due to adjusted operations or parking changes.
