A 4.5-magnitude tremor struck near Orcas Island early Monday, March 3, 2025. In seconds, WSF’s earthquake response policy went into action. It outlines immediate actions employees should take during and after the event.

WSF crew aboard Samish moved the boat out of Anacortes terminal as a precaution. Docked vessels with a deck crew are advised to move offshore.

Their priorities include staying safe, helping others and checking for damage. They also need to be ready for more quakes or a tsunami and manage emergency operations if needed.

Staff across WSF’s Anacortes/San Juan Islands route felt the shake. With help from WSF marine operations watch supervisor, the terminals and ferries stayed in close contact until things were safe. The tremor caused no damage, but it was a valuable test of earthquake readiness.