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State announces restored Bremerton two-boat service, Wenatchee returns after hybrid conversion; $1.3 billion set for new vessels
Summary
Governor Ferguson said the Bremerton–Seattle route will return to two-boat service starting Sunday, the ferry Wenatchee has completed hybrid-electric conversion and will undergo sea trials ahead of a July return, and the recently adopted budget includes about $1.3 billion for new vessels plus roughly $40 million for crew hiring and training.
Governor Ferguson announced on a cloudy morning press conference that Washington State will expand ferry service and restore key routes this summer, starting with the Bremerton–Seattle line.
"Starting on Sunday, we will expand service on the Bremerton route, restoring 2 boat service for the first time in 3 years," Ferguson said, adding the change will cut average wait times on the route by roughly an hour. The move, he said, is permanent.
Ferguson also said the larger hybrid-electric ferry Wenatchee has completed conversion work and is undergoing sea trials. "The Wenatchee's conversion has been completed, so it's now undergoing sea trials to ensure it's back in operational shape," he said, adding that if trials go as planned the vessel should return to service in July. With Wenatchee back, the fleet will reach 21 vessels in total and typically operate 18 at a time while others are in maintenance, Ferguson said.
The governor outlined further near-term restorations: returning a third boat to the Triangle Route (West Seattle–Vashon–Southworth) by the end of the month and adding a second boat to the Port Townsend–Coupeville route for the July 4 weekend and summer schedule.
Ferguson described fleet and workforce pressures behind the multi-pronged plan. He said the budget adopted weeks earlier contains about $1,300,000,000 to build new vessels and approximately $40,000,000 for crew hiring, retention and training. "We need to have the vessels, but also part of the challenges we had was the challenges on the workforce," he said.
Local officials at the press conference lauded the announcements. Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler called the restoration "a game changer for our community," saying reliable ferry service is critical for workers, medical access and connecting residents with Seattle events. Representative Greg Nance said restoring service "restores more than a 2 boat schedule" and praised ferry crews and system leadership. Senator Mark Oles credited Move Ahead Washington for earlier investments and noted kids will ride free when two-boat service resumes.
On procurement, Ferguson said bids for new vessels have been received and the state is conducting a multifaceted review. He stressed the size and duration of the investment, saying the decision will be made "thoughtfully" and in consultation with legislative leaders and experts.
Officials repeatedly emphasized that the fleet remains aging and that additional investments and maintenance planning will be required after restoring service. Ferguson said the administration is also exploring lease-to-purchase options to bring more vessels into service quickly.
The governor excused visiting elected officials before taking additional questions from reporters and said the administration will provide further updates on construction bids and vessel procurement decisions as they are finalized.
