Coast Guard Now Requiring Additional Ferry Crews

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (Metro) -- Following a wave of sailing cancellations caused by crew members not reporting for work, the Coast Guard is ordering the Washington State Ferry System to add one person to each Jumbo and Super Class ferry by the end of November for safety reasons.

"The Everett Herald" says the system has no money to comply, but will do so anyway.

Some have suspected that the crew issues are an unofficial job action to protest staffing cuts.

The Inland Boatmen's Union denies it.