Five days each week for over three decades,Greg NanceHis father traveled by ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle, where he worked as a public defender.
That’s how he provided for his family. That’s how he managed to send three children to college,” Nance stated. “With the current delays and flight cancellations, that story is no longer possible.
Washington’s ferry system has gained a reputation for being unreliable in recent years, with old ships transporting cars and people experiencing mechanical failures and trips being canceled because of a lack of crew. Nance, a Democratic state representative from Kitsap, aims to rapidly revive the area’s water-based transportation network using more affordable passenger-only ferries.
Nance is the patron ofHouse Bill 1923, a measure referred to as the “Mosquito Fleet Act” in tribute to thefleet of steamshipswhich, over a hundred years ago, navigated Washington state’s inland sea, transporting merchandise and travelers across Puget Sound.
While the Washington State Department of Transportation intends to update its outdated fleet with hybrid-electric boats, thetransition has experienced prolonged delays and is dealing with significant financial shortfalls.
Proponents of Bill suggest that a quickly implemented, passenger-only ferry system could assist employees in traveling to work, link inhabitants with healthcare services, and enhance tourism in more remote locations — while revitalizing the area’s renowned shipbuilding and maritime repair sectors.
Nance views the bill as the initial move toward developing new policies that position the state as a leading center for advanced manufacturing within the maritime industry.
For 15 years, officials throughout the country, we’ve been neglecting our responsibilities,” he stated. “China constructs approximately 100 vessels for every single American ship. This is entirely unsustainable in today’s climate. We must regain our competitive advantage.
A structure for boat transportation
HB 1923 focuses on state laws that limit the introduction of new passenger ferry services.Kitsap Transitis permitted to operate high-speed, passenger-only ferries between Seattle and three locations — Bremerton, Kingston, and Southworth — along withsmaller vesselslinking Bremerton with neighboring communitiesKing Countyprovides water taxi services from Seattle to West Seattle and Vashon Island.
The latest law accomplishes two primary objectives:
- Enable port districts along with city, county, municipal, regional, and unincorporated transit systems to establish passenger ferry districts and routes across Puget Sound and the Washington coastline.
- Under certain limitations, the updated ferry system may impose a sales tax of as much as 0.3%, enforce commercial parking taxes, and gather fees from passengers along with advertising revenue.
The measure was initially proposed last year but faced delays in the Senate. A modified version of HB 1923 passed the House recently with strong bipartisan backing and is set for a Senate committee hearing on Friday. The bill has strict timelines for approval, as the legislative session is scheduled to conclude on March 12.
Rachel Aronson of Washington Maritime Blue, a non-profit organization dedicated to the sustainable maritime sector, stated that the group “supports the economic and quality of life advantages that this legislation can provide through the development of new passenger-only ferry services.”
However, the group responsible for the Quiet Sound program, which safeguards the area’s endangered orcas from noise pollution, is seeking enhanced protections for whales and advocating for vessels with low or no emissions, stating that this transition “strengthens Washington’s position as a global leader in clean maritime innovation.”
Routes on the horizon
County officials previously suggestedan electric ferry serviceBetween Seattle and Tacoma, there are plans for a pilot project this summer to capitalize on the influx of 2026 FIFA World Cup visitors. The schedule seems very tight — and the project would still need approval from the proposed law.
Other encouraging possible paths proposed by supporters of HB 1923 include:
- San Juan Islands to Sidney, British Columbia
- San Juan’s intra-island service to Bellingham
- Everett Port to South Whidbey
- Olympia to Sea-Tac through Des Moines, and other routes
Peter Philips, a long-time Seattle-area supporter of the local maritime industry, advocates for passenger ferries and backs the bill. He thinks the ships could be deployed rapidly.
You can construct one of those vessels in 18 months at a Puget Sound facility,” he stated. “The necessary skills are all present here.
