At Washington State Ferries, 2026 has started with a thud, one ferry each of the first three days of the year were pulled from service for mechanical problems. Here's a rundown.Walla Walla was removed from our Seattle/Bremerton route midday Thursday, Jan. 1. A propeller blade broke off. The cause is still unknown.
Washington State Ferries reported that its 17-vessel service was dinged by the removal of the ferry Wenatchee, which has been taken out of service due to a mechanical issue involving one of its electrical subsystems discovered last week.According to WSF, the vessel’s engine crew and maintenance teams are working to remove and replace the damaged equipment, which remains under warranty.
A wave of close to 1 million more passengers pushed Washington State Ferries’ 2025 ridership to 20.1 million. That’s a jump of 5% from 19.1 million the previous year.The return of full domestic service propelled the year-to-year increase in annual ridership. In June, the Seattle/Bremerton route’s second boat was restored