The Whatcom Chief ferry was back on the water Tuesday evening after an unexpected steering issue sidelined the vessel for most of the day, cutting off regular service between Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island. Whatcom County Public Works confirmed the vessel returned to service at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, and was expected to run a full evening schedule.
The trouble began Monday evening, when ferry crews identified a steering problem. The Whatcom Chief was pulled from service the following morning at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to allow repairs to be made at the Gooseberry Point terminal. For Lummi Island residents, who depend on the ferry as their only link to the mainland, the outage meant an uncertain wait with no estimated return-to-service time given during the morning hours.
By early afternoon, a county update confirmed that steering repairs were actively underway and that crews were hoping to complete sea trials within the hour. A 3:30 p.m. update noted that the Whatcom Chief remained out of service, with repairs continuing. Just over an hour later, the vessel was cleared and back in operation.
The Lummi Island ferry is operated by the Whatcom County Public Works Ferry Division, which manages both the vessel and the crossing schedule. The Whatcom Chief is the sole means of vehicle and passenger transport to Lummi Island, making unplanned outages particularly disruptive for the roughly 900 island residents who rely on it for everything from work commutes to grocery runs to medical appointments on the mainland.
Steering issues on aging ferries are not uncommon, though unplanned outages during the workday create particular hardship. Residents tracking ferry conditions can monitor updates directly through Whatcom County's transportation newsflash page, which is updated in real time during disruptions.
Tuesday's outage follows a separate period of limited service earlier this spring. In both cases, county crews moved quickly to address the mechanical issues and restore full operations. The ferry division has indicated that the Whatcom Chief is expected to continue its regular schedule following Tuesday's return to service.
For Lummi Island commuters and visitors planning trips in the coming days, county officials advise checking ferry status before heading to Gooseberry Point, particularly during periods of unusual weather or after overnight alerts. Schedules and service notices are available through the county's official transportation channels.
