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San Juan council member outlines Switch Maritime passenger-only ferry proposal and federal funding opportunity
Summary
Councilmember Carrie McVay described a Switch Maritime proposal for hydrogen passenger-only ferries to Bellingham, estimated operating costs of about $10 million a year for two boats, and flagged pending federal legislation that would expand passenger-ferry grant programs.
San Juan County Councilmember Carrie McVay briefed the Ferry Advisory Committee on ongoing discussions with Switch Maritime about a passenger-only hydrogen ferry service that could run between Friday Harbor/Orcas/Shaw/Lopez and Bellingham.
"They could operate two boats for six round trips between those" locales, McVay said, describing Switchs proposal and her discussions with Switch representative Seamus Nolan and other contacts. She said a two-boat operation could be built and operated faster than new car ferries and estimated operating costs "about 10,000,000 a year" for two vessels, inclusive of maintenance and staffing.
McVay said Switch Maritime offered to provide operators and maintenance under its proposal but cautioned that Washington State Ferries could not adopt a passenger-only service under current state law and labor arrangements without legislative or contractual changes. "Washington state ferries can't take this on. It would only be taken on as a complimentary service to Washington State Ferries...and their labor unions are not going to go for that," she said, recounting constraints that Switch and WSF staff raised.
McVay also pointed to pending federal legislation that would expand funding for passenger ferry programs, saying it would create potential grant streams the county could pursue. She encouraged the FAC to review the bill text and consider whether to suggest changes or send support through county channels.
Committee members and WSF staff discussed infrastructure and operational constraints: parking and pickup/drop-off arrangements at island terminals, dock compatibility, fueling and maintenance locations, and whether Bellingham or Anacortes would be a better mainland terminal for passenger-only service. WSF staff noted they have limited capacity to absorb additional services without addressing statutory limits and workforce impacts.
Next steps: McVay said she will continue discussions with legislators and Switch Maritime and will share the Switch proposal with committee members; WSF staff and FAC members suggested the county and FAC consider infrastructure planning in parallel with any service proposals.
