From Kiro(7):
SEATTLE — Our region’s ferry woes continued Wednesday when riders on several routes saw delays and cancellations.
Washington State Ferries says there are six boats out of service and have informed lawmakers about the issues.
The ferry Walla Walla was taken out of service on Friday when crews found damage to one of its propellers.
Since then, officials say it has been a game of Tetris, reassigning fleets, which has impacted passengers who take the Edmonds-Kingston ferry.
“State ferries face two big challenges. One of them is sort of short and medium-term, and that is due to staffing — there’s a worldwide shortage. The next issue is vessels. There are only 21 vessels in the fleet,” said WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling.
Officials say staffing is easier to address, and that they are working on getting new vessels.
“So new boats, yeah, we need them. We’re authorized to build five new ones; we need to find a shipbuilder. We haven’t been able to come to terms with a price that’s good for taxpayers, yet once we find that we will get to building, and sometime in the next five years you’ll see a new boat come on the line,” said Sterling.
https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/states-ferry-woes-continue-with-6-boats-out-service/4XXIPA4G6JG63NEFHYZBJ556N4/
Meanwhile in colder, more windy, less affluent, Scotland, out of 34 ferries, only the MV Alfred and MV Loch Alainn are out of service.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Indeed, and Washington State is not hog-tied financially and legally by a government at the other end of the country, nor has a flouncing and mendacious governor imposed on them….
In fairness, even Able Seaman Goldstein at the Herald might struggle with the MV Walla Walla’s stats at 60 feet longer with 1,300 greater passenger capacity than the MV Seaforth, but there again I doubt the Tribes of Washington would be much interested in what Martin has to say any more than the average Scot…
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