The public is invited to bid “bon voyage” to Washington State Ferries’ oldest ship, the 87-car Evergreen State, with one last ride from Friday Harbor to Anacortes Sunday, June 29. Crews will decommission the vessel and retire it from service following its final sailing.

The Evergreen State was the first vessel custom built for Washington State Ferries in 1954. The 87-car Klahowya will take over as the San Juan Islands interisland ferry following the departure of the Evergreen State.

“This remarkable ferry has served our customers well for six decades,” said Interim Assistant Secretary for Ferries Division Capt. George Capacci. “It’s tough to see her go, however decommissioning the Evergreen State and introducing in our newest ferry, the 144-car Tokitae are essential steps in modernizing our fleet.”

In the recent past she plied the waters of San Juan County between Anacortes and Sidney B.C. The ferry currently serves the interisland route.

“Washington State Ferries, and the Evergreen State have enabled our county to grow our economic base and provide basic transportation to Anacortes, Sidney and between islands,” said San Juan County Council member Rick Hughes. “Words are not enough to express what the Evergreen State has done for our community.”

Evergreen State’s final sailings on Sunday, June 29:

Interisland departs Friday Harbor at 11:35 a.m. with departures from Orcas (12:25 p.m.), Shaw (12:40 p.m.) and Lopez (1 p.m.).

Friday Harbor to Lopez and Anacortes departs Friday Harbor at 2:15 p.m., making a stop in Lopez (3:05 p.m. departure), before arriving in Anacortes.

The ferry will follow its normal summer sailing schedule until the 2:15 sailing from Friday Harbor on June 29. All applicable vehicle fares apply. Walk-on passenger tickets remain free of charge for both sailings.

San Juan County and the U.S. Coast Guard will provide an unofficial escort for the Evergreen State on her final interisland and Friday Harbor/Anacortes sailings. Private boats are welcome to join the escort and sound their horns in tribute. For safety and security (pdf 88 kb), WSF reminds boaters to stay at least 100 yards, the length of a football field, from the ferry during transit.