MV Elwah made her way into Sidney March 27 in the first run of the season for the ferry between friends.
The ship brought a load of American visitors along with several dignitaries for the official welcome back.
“It’s been a long time since it’s been here and we’re looking forward to welcoming our good friends from Anacortes and Washington State,” said Sidney Mayor Larry Cross. “Hopefully this ferry will go on into the future and we’re very optimistic that it will.”
The Sidney to Anacortes run has been threatened with being cut back from 40 weeks of service a year to 22 weeks, due to budget cuts in Washington State. Both US and Canadian officials and fans of the run have worked to maintain its current schedule.
“Fellow North Americans and Islanders of the great Salish Sea,” intoned Town Crier of the City of Anacortes, Washington Richard Riddell. “We have come together again to celebrate this link that connects our islands and our countries to renew the bonds of friendship that exist now and forever between our people. How lucky, how blessed, some would say, are we that we can enjoy the opportunities of nature and commerce that this mechanical conveyance provides to us.”
The ferry runs daily, leaving Anacortes at 8:30 a.m. and arriving in Sidney at 11:15 a.m. It leaves Sidney at 12:05 p.m. and arrives in Anacortes at 3 p.m.
The ferry is scheduled to run until the end of December.