Washington State Ferries, commonly known as WSF is the largest ferry operating system in the United States. This ferry system serves eight counties within the limits of Washington and the British Columbia Province in Canada. Counties like Pierce, Kitsap, King, Snohomish, Skagit, San Juan Island and Jefferson Counties are well connected by this ferry system. Washington State Ferries operate in almost 10 routes and has 20 terminals. The total number of vessels of this ferry system counts up to 28. A survey in 1999, showed that WSF carried over 26 million passengers.
Washington State Ferries came into existence in 1951. Ferry service has always been intensive in the area of Puget Sound. In 1929, the ferry industry had amalgamated into two companies, namely Kitsap County Transportation Company and Puget Sound Navigation Company. After World War II, the Washington State Ferries started its functions and eventually became the largest ferry fleet of United States. Passengers travel from Tacoma, Seattle, Washington to British Columbia and Sidney. There are more than 1800 dedicated employees who contribute to the Washington State Ferries' popularity throughout the state.
Washington State Ferries in Seattle is controlled by the Captain or Master, who looks after the managerial operations of the vessel from the pilothouse. The Chief Mate is the Captain's assistant. The ferries are categorized into classes according to their facilities. Some of the classes with their respective vehicles are as follows:
- Jumbo Mark II Class includes Wenatchee, Puyallup and Tacoma as their vessels.
- Jumbo Class vessels are Spokane and Walla Walla.
- Super Class includes Elwha, Yakima, Kaleetan and Hyak ferries.
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Issaquah 130 Class has Kittitas, Kitsap, Chelan, Cathlamet and Issaquah ferries.
Issaquah 100 Class includes Sealth ferry.
Evergreen State Class comprises Tillikum and Klahowya vessels.
Steel Electric Class ferries are Quinault, Nisqually, Illahee and Klickitat
Passenger-Only Fast Ferry includes Snohomish and Chinook vessels.
Rhododendron class and Hiyu class ferries.
Routes of Washington State Ferries
The Washington State Ferries is an excellent mode of water transport in the region, which connects several ports, harbors and coastal cities. Some of the routes of these ferry services are:
- Downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island
- Downtown Seattle to Bremerton
- Southworth to Vashon Island to Fauntleroy or West Seattle
- Clinton to Mukilteo
- Friday Harbor on San Juan Island (a famous tourist hot spot near Seattle)
- Point Defiance to Tahlequah or the southern tip of Vashon Island
- Edmonds to Kingston
- Keystone to Port Townsend
- Anacortes to Orcas Island, Shaw Island and Lopez Island
The timings of the ferries can be available from the terminal point notice board. The board is always updated with any change of timings. The Washington State Ferries fares are decided on the basis of routes, class of vessels and distance of destinations. Washington State Ferries serve as one of the prime modes of transport for the tourists who visit the nearby islands and coastal regions to enjoy the spectacular scenery.
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