Ferry service to the San Juans severely reduced after vessel ‘Yakima’ damaged

ANACORTES, Wash. — Ferry service in the San Juan Islands is severely reduced after one of the four vessels that travels to and from Anacortes was damaged.

At about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the anchor on the ferry Yakima came loose, dropped several feet down the side of the boat and swung into place.

The anchor, which weighs hundreds of pounds, bent metal on the ferry and damaged it above the waterline.

New reservations on the San Juan Islands route will be suspended at least through Sunday, May 1. The Yakima’s sailings are canceled until late Saturday, when the ferry Kaleetan will replace it.

Washington State Ferries plans to move the Kaleetan from the Edmonds-Kingston route, and replace it with the smaller Sealth.

WSF officials said they planned to tow the Yakima to dry dock for repairs, which are expected to take about a week.

Washington State Ferries said existing reservation holders will be prioritized and loaded on a first-come, first-served basis. No-show fees will not be charged for those with reservations who choose not to travel during this time.

Those without a reservation can sail on standby but should be prepared for the possibility of lengthy delays and should get to the terminal early.

Before the Yakima was damaged, Washington State Ferries was already operating on reduced service at times due to staffing issues. Some routes are operating on alternate schedules until further notice.

Find WSF cancellations and travel alerts at this link.

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