WA State Ferries system suffers same problems as Alaska

The Washington State Ferries system still has not returned to its full pre-pandemic schedule, coming up short due to fewer riders, an inability to recruit, hire and train onboard crew, high rates of retirements and resignations, and a “lack of vessels due to unanticipated breakdowns and an aging fleet.”

Some sailings have been canceled for lack of crew, and a few routes are running at reduced service.

It sounds a lot like the Alaska Marine Highway System.

The Washington state system, which has been around since 1951, 12 years older than Alaska’s ferry service, has 21 operable ships, down from...