Lummi Island ferry access will be pedestrian-only from May 18 to June 15 when the Whatcom Chief departs for its annual dry dock outage.
While the pedestrian ferry will operate starting May 18, the end date is tentative as repairs could take longer than the expected 28 days. Whatcom County Council approved a contract on Tuesday, April 9 with Lake Union Drydock Company for the drydocking, repair and maintenance of the ferry for nearly $1.2 million.
Lummi Island residents had opposed the dry dock outage, due to it happening over Memorial Day weekend and the impact it would have on tourism. The Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee passed a resolution at a March 18 special meeting requesting that dry dock dates avoid periods of peak summer revenue.
“This period generates high-volume revenue for the ferry system and vital revenue for multiple island businesses, artisans and many county businesses that provide services to the island,” Ferry Advisory Committee Chair Pam Gould said at a March 19 county council meeting.
Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa said at the March 19 meeting that they normally avoid dry dock over major holidays, but due to the low availability of shipyards, they had to consider it.
Maintenance of the more than 60-year-old ferry is sorely needed, Kosa said. The ferry’s engine will be replaced during this year’s dry dock.
“I understand it’s a huge inconvenience, it’s a potential loss of revenue but what we cannot sacrifice is safety of the people, the crew,” Kosa said.
Kosa said the dry dock availability they were used to was “gobbled up this year,” and said public works will plan further in advance next year.
“The plan after coming out of the dry dock this year is to plan well in advance, almost as soon as we leave, we’ll be probably going out to bid for the following year,” she said.
During dry dock, WTA provides a shuttle on the island. Ferry service is passenger-only, but people can bring bikes. Kosa said they also partner with WTA to try and increase the frequency of the buses coming to the bus stop at Gooseberry Point.
Parking at Gooseberry Point has always been a challenge, Kosa said, and public works will need to find a better parking solution before the larger outage when the Whatcom Chief is replaced with a new hybrid ferry.
Dry dock is one of several issues the Lummi Island community has been engaged in over the last several months. County Executive Satpal Sidhu issued an executive order on March 28 to raise ferry fares as part of a plan to right the fare box’s deficit, due to concern over the financial impact on island residents.
An ordinance to amend ferry rates was introduced at the Whatcom County Council meeting on April 9, with a likely public hearing on Tuesday, April 23. Last summer, Sidhu vetoed council-approved rates due to insufficient consultation with the Ferry Advisory Committee.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
