Skagit County creates temporary technical advisory group to evaluate Guemes Ferry replacement options
(SKAGIT COUNTY)- The Skagit Board of County Commissioners (Board) is convening a temporary technical advisory group (TAG) to evaluate and recommend options for replacement of the Guemes Island ferry. Since 2013, Skagit County has been studying options for replacement of the Guemes Island ferry as it has become overly burdensome to continue maintaining the current vessel. The TAG will consider previous ferry replacement studies and designs, including the all-electric ferry proposal, along with the results of the value engineering study conducted by Skagit County Public Works and a third-party consultant, to recommend replacement or refurbishment strategies for the Guemes Island ferry by August 31, 2026, according to a news release from the county.
The TAG is intended to be a time-limited advisory group and will dissolve without further action by the Board on August 31, 2026. The TAG will include five members who are residents of Guemes Island and four members who are Skagit County residents at-large, but not residents of Guemes Island. The at-large members will preferably be familiar with local vessel operations, private marine delivery or shuttle service, shipbuilding, naval architecture, emergency operations, or other relevant experience.
The advisory recommendations to be provided by the TAG to the Board shall focus solely on the following areas:
- Study and review of all alternative ferry propulsion options studies conducted to date by the County.
- Provide advisory recommendations and input to County staff during the County’s value engineering and risk assessment, specifically in helping to define “value” for purposes of such evaluation.
- Provide an advisory comparative analysis of different ferry propulsion methods (e.g., all-electric, hybrid, diesel electric, green diesel, Liquefied Natural Gas, and hydrogen) to evaluate, at a minimum, the following.
- Upfront capital cost
- Life cycle cost
- Ongoing operating costs
- Complexity
- Year-over-year maintenance costs and intervals
- Emissions
- Energy consumption
- Other options for ferry service, including, but not limited to, preserving M/V Guemes for another 10-15 years, partnering with Whatcom County to build a new vessel identical to its new design, etc.
The TAG will provide two main deliverables to the County Commissioner before August 31, 2026:
1. A comprehensive final TAG advisory report with recommendations to the Board, which may include a set of alternative ferry propulsion options, evaluation of alternatives based on identified key factors, other advisory recommendations concerning cost analysis and other considerations.
2. A public presentation of the final TAG report to the County Commissioners during a televised work session.
TAG meetings will be open to the public, but there will be no public comment taken during meetings. TAG members will elect a chair from existing members of the TAG and follow Robert’s Rules of Order to conduct meetings. Meeting minutes and other materials made available to the TAG will be posted on the ferry website. All meetings will be held in person at the Anacortes Public Library.
More information on the TAG organization can be found in the TAG charter on our website.
Interested citizens can apply for the TAG by submitting a resume and application through the portal on our website. Applications are due by Friday, September 26th, at 4:30 p.m. The first TAG meeting will be held in early November at the Anacortes Public Library.