Is the ferry you want ready to go July 4 week? Here’s what to know

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Ferry officials are warning of a busy Fourth of July weekend, with potential for long waits and missed sailings, and are asking travelers to plan ahead and think about alternative routes.

A lack of boats has dented Washington State Ferries’ overall service, and its popular routes connecting Seattle to Bainbridge, Edmonds to Kingston, and Mukilteo to Clinton are operating with just two boats on each route.

More headaches for holiday ferry passengers were narrowly averted over the weekend, after the agency hustled to return the 144-vehicle, Olympic class Suquamish to service. Damage from a crab pot line to the vessel’s stern tube was discovered when the ferry was brought to the agency’s Bainbridge facility for annual maintenance.

The boat was moved to dry dock at Everett Ship Repair on June 24 for a closer look at the damage and to get it back in working order. The boat was repaired, towed to Bainbridge’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Saturday, and went through sea trials Sunday morning to ready it for service before the busy holiday.

The repair was hastened because Washington State Ferries needed the Suquamish to sail the Mukilteo-Clinton route in place of the 144-vehicle Tokitae, which was taken out of service and dry-docked Sunday for maintenance that must happen every five years, per federal regulations. The Tokitae is expected to return to service in the fall.

Even with the Suquamish returning to service, which ferry officials were unsure would happen late last week, the state agency is warning of long wait times this week — especially Wednesday through Friday — and asking passengers for patience.

The agency is advising travelers to check terminal conditions and make vehicle reservations, especially on the Anacortes-San Juan Islands and Port Townsend-Coupeville routes. Officials also suggested leaving your car at home to travel by foot or bicycle, which don’t require reservations and ensure passage, as well as signing up for rider alerts and checking their real-time map.

“We run a complex operation of roughly 400 daily sailings,” Steve Nevey, the state ferries’ chief, said in a statement. “Our online tools let customers take control of their ferry travel to help plan a trip and know what to expect before they get in a ferry waiting line.”

Travelers may also consider taking the passenger-only services provided by King and Kitsap counties. King County Water Taxis sail from downtown Seattle to Vashon Island and West Seattle. Kitsap Transit Fast Ferries connect downtown Seattle to Bremerton, Kingston and Southworth.

Alternative driving routes on or off Whidbey Island include taking Interstate 5 north from Mukilteo to Highway 20 west to Deception Pass. Or, from Clinton or Coupeville, take the opposite route up through Deception Pass to Highway 20 and I-5.

There will be a few holiday schedule changes on Thursday. The Anacortes-San Juan Islands, Edmonds-Kingston and Point Defiance-Tahlequah routes will run normal service with some minor modifications. The Port Townsend-Coupeville run will be on a normal weekday schedule, but with no 10 or 10:40 p.m. sailings. Passengers can find more information at wsdot.com/ferries/schedule.

The Seattle-Bainbridge Island and Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth routes will be on a weekend schedule.

Lastly, leave the explosives at home: Fireworks are not allowed on state ferries.