Ferry Home

Ferry Operations

• Schedule
• 2010 Whatcom Chief Fueling Dates
• Rates
• Ferry Punch Card Order Form
• Tide Restrictions
  (best printed at 11x17)
• Bus Schedule
• Map & Directions
• Brochure

Gooseberry Pt. Dock/Tide Land Lease

• Gooseberry Dock Powerpoint
• Lummi Island Ferry Dock Lease Agreement
• Lummi Island Ferry Dock to be Relocated
• Proposed Sidewalk Improvements

Reports

• Risk Assessment Report

Studies

Lummi Reservation Traffic Study

• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C- with updated traffic data from 2009
• Appendix D
• Appendix E

Ferry Dock Relocation Study

• Appendix A- Site Rating Matrix
• Appendix B- Site Ranking Explanation
• Appendix C- Area & Resource Permitability Screening
• Appendix D- Cultural & Historic Resource Consideration
• Appendix E- Ch 4 Lummi Traffic Safety Study

News Updates

Lummi Island Ferry

Whatcom County Public Works Ferry Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Whatcom Chief.  This ferry serves Lummi Island residents, visitors, and businesses, transporting over 207,160 passengers during 2009.  This same period has seen vehicle or passenger car trips of 115,219 and total vehicles transported of 119,400. 

During 2008, the ferry transported 216,838 passengers. This same period has seen vehicle or passenger car trips of 117,254 and total vehicles transported of 123,285.

Ridership shows strong seasonal variations.  July and August remain the busiest months with over 10% of all vehicle and pedestrian trips occurring in each of these months.  The permanent resident population is over nine hundred and during the summer swells to over two thousand.

The Whatcom County ferry system operates 365 days a year.  The Whatcom Chief is 93.5 feet long with a beam of 44.1 feet and a displacement of 78 tons.  This vessel was built in 1962 and has a capacity of 100 passengers and 20 vehicles.  The Whatcom Chief is the only link for the majority of Lummi Island residents and all vehicles to the mainland at Gooseberry Point, a trip of 0.8 miles and about 5 minutes, not including loading and unloading times.  The ferry is also a link for a number of summer residents and vacationers. 

Annual Dry Dock

Each year the Whatcom Chief spends time in dry dock in order to undergo annual maintenance.  The vessel can be in dry dock from two to three weeks, depending on the extent of the maintenance needed.  A passenger-only ferry operates while the Whatcom Chief is in dry dock.  Temporary parking is made available near the Gooseberry Point landing during the period of dry dock.  This temporary mainland parking facility has a nighttime security guard.  Temporary parking is also provided on Lummi Island for those who choose to walk on for the trip to the mainland.

The ferry system includes two terminal locations and parking facilities.  A portion of the Gooseberry Point facility is secured from the Lummi Nation through a lease agreement.

Ferry Rates

Current ferry rates include single rider purchase and multi-ride card purchasing options.  In addition, discount fares (after meeting defined qualifications) are available to students, seniors, disabled persons, and Lummi Island residents who meet income levels set by Whatcom County Ordinance 2007-001. Total fares are intended to cover 55% of the operational costs associated with ferry operation.  The balance of the operational costs are covered by state and local tax revenues.

To read Whatcom County Ordinance 2007-001 in full please click here.

Hours of Operation

Hours of operation are 5:40 AM to 12:10 AM on weekdays (38 scheduled runs), 7:00 AM to 12:30 AM on Saturdays, and 7:00 AM to 12:10 AM on Sundays and five major holidays.  The ferry also offers a twice weekly fuel truck run and can accommodate vehicles up to 50,000 lbs. with some restrictions. The ferry is available as an on-call service in the event of an emergency such as necessary evacuation from Lummi Island to St Joseph's Hospital.

Ferry Costs

Whatcom County Ordinance 2005-090 states in part: "Beginning January 1, 2006, a 55% Fare Box Recovery Rate shall be applied and evaluated continuously from that time forward. An annual review of Ferry System services, actual and projected Operating Costs, and actual and projected revenue from Ferry User Fees shall occur in order to verify the 55% Fare Box Recovery Rate is being achieved."

"In any given year the actual Fare Box Recovery Rate exceeds 55%, the excess revenue shall be retained in the Ferry System Fund and applied only to future Operating Costs."

"In any given year the actual Fare Box Recovery Rate is below 55%, the difference shall be recovered in a future Ferry User Fee increase, unless there is adequate excess Ferry User Fee revenue remaining in the Ferry System Fund collected during prior years."

To read Whatcom County Ordinance 2005-090 in full please click here.

2009 Costs

In 2009 expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,545,688. Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $97,655 and interest income of $16,386 partially offset these costs. This results in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,461,647. Fare-box receipts totaled $1,145,856 which is equal to 45.0% of total operating costs, and 46.5% of net operating expenditures. The Road Fund transferred in $1,152,957 to subsidize ferry operations. The net operating loss for 2009 after this transfer was $132,835.

2008 Costs

In 2008 operating expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,124,508 . Motor Vechicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $144,319 and interest income of $37,645 partially offset these costs. This results in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $1,942,544. Fare-box receipts totaled $1,128,360, which equals to 53.1% of total operating costs, and 58.15% of net operating expenditures.

Contact Us

Any questions? Contact Public Works Ferry Division, at
(360) 676-6692, or
email: Ferry@co.whatcom.wa.us