The Whatcom Chief will be out of service for dry dock repairs and maintenance starting the morning of Friday, May 6. The boat is expected to return to service on Saturday, May 21. The return date is always tentative and subject to change.
This webpage will be updated as additional information becomes available.
- Please contact Whatcom County Public Works Administration with questions or concerns at 360-778-6200 or email ferry@whatcomcounty.us.
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
- There is no capital work this year on the docks that requires the ramps so the disabled parking will open early at approximately noon after our M&O sign crew has finished all the temporary markings
Thursday, May 5, 2022
- Shuttle van service begins
- This will be the last day to move vehicles on or off Lummi Island.
- The last two regularly scheduled sailings before the Whatcom Chief departs for the shipyard will be the 9:00 pm run (Lummi Island to Gooseberry Point) and the 9:10 pm run (Gooseberry Point to Lummi Island)
- There will be NO SERVICE will the passenger vessel floats are installed overnight
Friday, May 6, 2022
- Passenger-only ferry begins service at 5:40 am run
- Assigned business parking begins at Gooseberry https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/50012/Exhibit-AA-Gooseberry-Dry-Dock-Parking-Map
Friday, May 20, 2022
- Assigned business parking on Gooseberry Point ends
- The passenger-only ferry will make all of its scheduled runs
Saturday, May 21, 2022
- No ferry service of any kind until the Whatcom Chief returns around 4:00 pm
- Whatcom Chief resumes regular schedule ASAP
Sunday, May 22, 2022
- Last day the shuttle van will provide service
- All vehicles must be removed from the dry dock only parking spaces
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
- All vehicles must be removed from supplemental dry dock parking
Quick Links
- COVID-19 Prevention
- Passenger Only Ferry Information
- Shuttle Van Information
- Vehicle Parking Information
A Spring Dry Dock in 2022
In recent years, the Whatcom Cheif’s dry dock maintenance has happened in the fall. This year the vessel will have a spring dry dock outage for approximately 2 weeks from May 6-21.
Mandated repairs were cited by the US Coast Guard at the end of the fall 2021 dry dock period. Completing this work when it was first cited would have likely caused a significant delay in the vessel’s return to service. Completing this work in the spring ensures proper planning and materials acquisition. Other benefits of a spring dry dock include:
By the end of September, the Ferry Division will be in the unique position to compare and contrast the drydock outages performed at different times of the year. Some of the items we will look at are:
- Vehicle parking availability
- Passenger ferry down time due to inclement weather (disruption to emergency response, commerce, and education)
- Ridership and farebox recovery
- Shipyard availability
COVID-19 Prevention
Whatcom County Public Works balances the transportation needs of the community with the need to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Health and safety protocols will be published closer to the dry dock start date.
WCPW recognizes that the pandemic is evolving, and procedures may change if new health and safety mandates are instituted at the local, state, or federal level.
Passenger-Only Ferry:
The contracted passenger-only ferry will provide service between Lummi Island and Gooseberry Point.
- Pets and bicycles are allowed on the stern of the vessel only.
- Owners are responsible for their pet’s actions.
- Bicycles will load last. The maximum number of bicycles allowed on the passenger ferry at one time is six.
- Bicycle users must be able to lift their bicycle over their heads or be prepared to wait for the next ferry if there is no room on the stern of the boat.
- The passenger-only ferry can only accept non-motorized wheelchairs as motorized wheelchairs are too wide to pass through the opening in the bulwarks of the passenger ferry.
Shuttle Van Service
Shuttle information will be posted closer to the dry dock start date.
Our shuttle van is a surplus WTA 15-passenger van with a wheelchair lift. The shuttle must meet a very tight schedule. Please be at the shuttle van stop early to be sure of a ride. The maximum number of passengers allowed in the shuttle van at any one time is 15. No exceptions.
Vehicle Parking and Removal
Vehicle parking and no parking information will be posted closer to the dry dock start date.
It is extremely important that designated no parking areas are kept open and clear for the smooth operations of the ferry system, shuttle van, and for safety and fire access.
Sign up to Receive Notifications
If you haven’t already, signup to receive email updates from us. On the Notify Me webpage, type in your email address and phone number, then scroll down to News Flash. Finally, select the envelope and/or phone icon for Public Works – Lummi Island and Ferry.
The envelope icon will send you emails, and the phone icon will send you text messages.
This feature allows you to receive an email, text message, or both when we have something new to report about this project.
Updated: 2022/05/24 @ 9:41 pm Tark Henderson