Ferry Home

Ferry Operations

• Schedule
• 2012 Whatcom Chief Fueling Dates
• Rates

Please note at this time we only accept cash or check for payment

• Weather Station
• 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
• Comprehensive Ferry Lease Documents
• 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 185,801 passengers during 2011. This same period has seen vehicle or passenger car trips of 104,559 and total vehicles transported of 107,164.

During 2010, the ferry transported 197,980 passengers. This same period has seen vehicle or passenger car trips of 106,992 and total vehicles transported of 110,405.

During 2009, the ferry transported 207,160 passengers. This same period has seen vehicle or passenger car trips of 115,219 and total vehicles transported of 119,400.

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. 

Agreement to Provide Communications Equipment

Lummi Island Ferry Usage Charts

• Average Vehicles Per Run Weekdays: 2009 Weekends: 2009
• Average Passengers Per Run Weekdays: 2009 Weekends: 2009
• Average Vehicles Per Run Weekdays: 2006-2009 Weekends: 2006-2009
• Average Passengers Per Run Weekdays: 2006-2009 Weekends: 2006-2009

Gooseberry Point Lease Negotiations

Press Release from Whatcom County Asst. Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor, Dan Gibson

• 3/2/11 Congressional Correspondence to BIA Regional Director
• 2/10/11 Letter from Lummi Indian Business Council
• Interim Agreement - Gooseberry Point
• Lummi Indian Business Council letter- October 12,2010
• Gooseberry Point lease proposals- August 20, 2010
• Pete Kremen letter- August 19, 2010
• Whatcom County Council letter- August 13, 2010
• Lummi Indian Business Council letter- July 30, 2010

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.

Lummi Island Ferry Rates to Increase on January 23, 2011

Ferry Fares Ordinance

**For information regarding needs based pedestrian multi punch cards please refer to the Whatcom County's Treasurer webpage.**

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.

2011 Costs

In 2011 expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,445,720. Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $165,174 partially offset these costs. This results in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,267,811. Fare-box receipts totaled $1,545,829 which is equal to 63.2% of total operating costs, and 68.2% of net operating expenditures. The Road Fund transferred in $1,100,574 to subsidize ferry operations. The net operating gain for 2011 after this transfer was $372,892.

2010 Costs

In 2010 expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,593,833.  Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $119,890 and interest income of $7,924 partially offset these costs.  This results in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,466,019.  Fare-box receipts totaled $1,021,866 which is equal to 39.4% of total operating costs, and 41.4% of net operating expenditures.  The Road Fund transferred in $1,162,727 to subsidize ferry operations.  The net operating loss for 2010 after this transfer was $281,426.

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.

Contact Us

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