After weeks in dry dock, the Lummi Island ferry is expected to return to service on September 29th as originally planned.
The annual scheduled maintenance for the Whatcom Chief puts it in dry dock for several weeks. This year, it began September 8th and was scheduled to return to service September 29th. According to an announcement today from Whatcom County Public Works, they expect it will return to service on the 29th at 9pm. But, they point out,
This scheduled return to service date is contingent upon successful completion of the US Coast Guard inspection on Tuesday, September 27, 2016.
During its time in dry dock, the Whatcom Chief was replaced by a passenger-only ferry. On September 29th, it is expected the passenger ferry’s last run from Lummi Island will be 3pm and its last run from Gooseberry Point will be 3:10pm. All ferry service will then stop to allow for the dock modifications and floats required for the contracted passenger-only ferry to be dismantled and removed. The Whatcom Chief’s first run is expected to then be at 9pm.
Click for more informationAccording to the announcement, the closure time was selected to coordinate with optimal tidal conditions needed to remove the floats.
The passenger shuttle van service will make all of its scheduled runs through Friday, September 30th. There will be no shuttle van service on Saturday, October 1st and thereafter.
All cars will need to be removed from the supplemental dry dock parking areas on Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island by the end of the day, Sunday, October 2nd. The County advises, any vehicles left in the supplemental dry dock parking areas after then will be towed at the owner’s expense.