SEATTLE — Crew shortages that forced the Washington State Ferries to cancel sailings today on 13 of 18 vessels coincided with labor union tensions for engine room employees, according to Gov. Bob Ferguson and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association.
WSF reported on social media, “This morning, 23 engine room employees called in sick. Every employee qualified to fill those positions has declined to fill them and keep the ferries running. All of the employees calling in sick, and declining to fill those vacancies, are represented by the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) who represent engine room employees. The ferries cannot run without these roles being filled. As a result, 13 of our 18 ferries are not in service. We understand how disruptive this is to thousands of Washingtonians. We expect our employees to return to work as soon as possible.
“The employees who work in the engine room play a vital role in providing WSF’s safe service, which is why Staff Chief Engineers have a base salary of $157,000, and can make more than $350,000 a year with overtime, as well as annual sick and vacation leave, and retirement accrual.
All WSF vessels are fully staffed at the beginning of every service day at U.S. Coast Guard required levels. When an employee calls in sick, request dispatchers work to fill the position as quickly as possible. When those positions aren’t filled, the boat cannot sail, which is what we’re experiencing today across 13 of the 18 vessels currently in service.”
The WSF post on Facebook explaining the cancelled sailings and stranded passengers received nearly 4000 comments in 7 hours.
Ferguson announced he had met with MEBA local and national leadership this morning and was briefed on their labor grievances regarding burn-out, scheduling and lack of relief crews but then added, “Causing significant harm and inconvenience to the people of Washington state is not the way to address those issues. I was very direct in our meeting: My expectation is that every vessel on every route is fully operational no later than the first vessel sailing tomorrow morning.”
WSF advised that all vessels are required to meet U.S. Coast Guard staffing levels in order to sail. When those positions aren’t filled, WSF says, the boat cannot sail, leaving passengers and riders looking for alternative routes or in some cases stuck on islands like Vashon or the San Juans.
On June 24, MEBA engineers at Washington State Ferries held a press conference at Colman Dock in Seattle, calling on the governor and state lawmakers to address a wage gap driving burnout, canceled sailings, and crew shortages.
A June 2026 survey of WSF engine room crew found more than 60% say they are somewhat or very likely to retire or leave WSF for a job elsewhere. Over 42% said they have had to cancel planned vacation and time off due to short-staffing or overtime demands.
MEBA WSF representative Eric Winge said at the press conference, “The conditions that cause crew shortages and canceled sailings remain unchanged. We will see delays and missed sailings in the summer and unreliability will continue to be an issue if the wage gap between engineers and our deck counterparts is not closed. Pay is higher in the private sector and even in comparable ferry systems in other regions of the country. Washington state is spending billions of dollars on new ferries, but if they don’t step up with more competitive pay we won’t have enough licensed crew to operate and repair the new hybrid electric vessels when they come into service.”
This morning, 23 engine room employees called in sick. Every employee qualified to fill those positions has declined to fill them and keep the ferries running. (1/6)
— Washington State Ferries (@wsferries) October 5, 2026