Whatcom Chief

The Whatcom Chief is a ferry in Washington state, United States.[1][2] The ferry carries both pedestrians and vehicles to Lummi Island from Gooseberry Point west of Bellingham, Washington.

Whatcom Chief en route to Gooseberry Point

The Gooseberry Point terminal is situated on land belonging to the Lummi Nation.[3]

A 35-year lease was agreed between Whatcom County and the Lummi Nation in September 2011. John Stark, writing in The Bellingham Herald, criticized Whatcom County for the cost of the lease, and for failing to push the Lummi Nation to take it to court by interpreting some Federal precedents that may have allowed access to the ferry terminal without a leasing fee.

Normally the voyage takes eight minutes.[4] The ferry can accommodate 20 vehicles and 100 pedestrian passengers. The ferry service is occasionally disrupted due to bad weather as well as propane deliveries as the fuel truck must ride across on the ferry alone.[5]

Replacement

The ferry was built in 1962 and is planned to be replaced by a new vessel in the 2020s. The $35 million project, which includes remodeled docks, will be funded by an increased fare and grants from the state legislature's 2022 transportation package.[6]

References
  1. Caleb Hutton (November 29, 2011). "Lummi ferry to be out of service at night until". The Bellingham Herald. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  2. "Lummi Island Ferry". Whatcom County Public Works. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  3. John Stark (September 15, 2011). "Whatcom County Council OKs new Lummi Island ferry lease". The Bellingham Herald. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  4. Mike McQuade (April 27, 2011). "Go for a hike, a loop on a bike or a world-class meal on Lummi Island". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 12, 2012. The Whatcom Chief ferry, operated by Whatcom County, holds 20 cars and 100 passengers. Crossing time is eight minutes. Round-trip fares are $13 for car and driver, plus $7 per passenger. Walk-ons and cyclists: $7.
  5. Kelly Robbins (September 27, 2011). "500 lose power in storm". Western Front. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2012. The Whatcom Chief, the ferry running from Gooseberry Point to Lummi Island, intermittently stopped the over the course of the day as winds fluctuated.
  6. Mittendorf, Robert (February 13, 2022). "State may have more than $9 million for Whatcom transportation. Here's how it would be used". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
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