EVERETT — Public officials have a message for visitors at the Mukilteo Fishing Pier.
Stop jumping off of it.
At first glance — if you ignore the signage warning you not to swim there — it may seem harmless. But the pier’s proximity to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal can be extremely dangerous for those in the water and cause delays for those commuting to and from the city.
Diving there has been an issue, officials say, ever since the pier opened a few years ago. The problem usually gets worse in the warmer summer months, said Nathan Fabia, a spokesperson for the Mukilteo Police Department.
“It’s all about safety,” Fabia said Thursday. “There’s a lot of dangers for those entering the water. There’s strong currents, limited visibility and the ferry traffic.”
Curt Larson, a captain with Washington State Ferries for decades, has been vocal about the issue for years. Ever since the dock was built, he’s seen people dive into the water regardless of the signs warning them not to. Every time someone is spotted swimming, he is forced to stop at least a quarter mile away until they get out of the water, causing delays for ferry riders.
Delays usually amount to only a couple of minutes, Larson said, but most importantly, it’s a safety concern for the swimmers. The ferry’s propeller wash can be “pretty extreme,” he said, and if it gets underneath the pier, it could drag swimmers underwater or push them into the wooden pilings that support the structure.
“The bottom line is, don’t get too close,” Larson said.
The Port of Everett built the fishing pier in 2021 to allow for fishing, crabbing and sightseeing. Its construction coincided with a new Mukilteo ferry terminal that opened in late 2020.
The port installed signage along the pier in an attempt to prevent people from diving off it. In a statement, the port said safety is always a top priority.
“We have been in close coordination with Washington State Ferries on this,” wrote Kate Anderson, a port spokesperson. “We hope the additional signage on the pier and more awareness to the dangers of this will stop the reckless behavior.”
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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