Washington State Ferries advised San Juan county inter-island travelers to plan for travel delays from Monday, May 24 through Memorial Day weekend, as the 34-car Hiyu fills in for the 87-car Evergreen State ferry on the inter-island route.

“Travelers should expect a significant vehicle-capacity reduction on the inter-island sailings and are advised to arrive early and allow extra time while the Hiyu serves the inter-island route,” reads the WSF’s May 21 press release.

A full-scale marine rescue response exercise in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday, May 25 requires the use of the 124-car Chelan and the 87-car Evergreen State ferries, necessitating six vessel moves for the WSF.

“We urge our customers to plan very far in advance for Memorial Day weekend travel,” said David Moseley, Assistant Secretary for WSF. “We have planned to the best of our ability, with a lack of backup vessels, to meet service demands and prioritize emergency preparedness. We ask for every customer’s understanding as we move into this challenging period.”

For more ferry system information, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.