WSF Weekly Report | Bids open on new ferries; unlawful passenger conduct; online community meetings next week

||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

A message from Steve

We need new ferries – 26 according to our Long Range Plan – with a current fleet of 21 vessels. This week, we took a big step closer to getting them. On Monday, we opened bids to build up to five new hybrid-electric 160-auto vessels. Three shipyards were prequalified to bid, and we received bids from two: Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island. We’re working to evaluate the bid documents and supporting information before we award. This is an exciting milestone in our ship building mission towards a more reliable and clean future.

These new vessels are a key part of our plan to grow our fleet to 26 vessels by 2040.

Once the contract is signed, the shipyard will contribute their expertise to complete the design. This should take about a year. Construction will follow. We are also offering incentives for early delivery. When terminals are electrified, these new vessels will run mostly on electric power and cut emissions by about 90% compared to the ferries they replace. They’ll use diesel only when needed. We’ll electrify 16 terminals, the first five – Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Clinton, Kingston and Seattle – are already in progress. I look forward to the next steps in this process and getting work started on new vessels.

Bill signed enforcing unlawful passenger conduct

On Monday, Deputy Assistant Secretary John Vezina (far right), and I joined Governor Ferguson as he signed Senate Bill 5716 (SB 5716).  Sponsored by Senator Deborah Krishnadasan (second from left), SB 5716 adds Washington State Ferries to a state law defining unlawful transit conduct.  Previously, smoking, littering, disruptive behavior including spitting or defecating, consuming alcohol or other hazardous substances, defacing property, or falsely impersonating a transit employee, were illegal on buses, light rail, and other transit services, but not ferries.  I appreciate the governor signing the bill, Senator Krishnadasan and Representative Julia Reed for championing the legislation in their respective legislative bodies, and Representative Greg Nance (third from right) for his support.

Fire Drill Enhances Safety Preparedness on Wenatchee

On Thursday, Vigor Shipyards led a coordinated fire response drill with Seattle Fire Department (SFD), and WSF crewmembers aboard Wenatchee, part of our ongoing commitment to safety. Over the course of an hour, participants conducted a thorough walkthrough of the vessel and engaged in active fire response planning, focusing on scenarios involving the ferry’s advanced hybrid propulsion system. These kinds of hands-on sessions are a crucial part of our proactive planning, particularly for new vessel technologies like lithium-battery systems. By confirming access points and verifying equipment readiness, everyone walked away with a clearer understanding of roles, response timing, and communication goals.

Thanks to our partners at Vigor and Seattle Fire Department for participating in a successful fire drill on board Wenatchee this week.

Online community meetings next week

Don’t forget – we’re hosting two online community meetings next week to share what’s ahead for the busy travel season. We’ll provide updates on service plans, new vessel construction and upcoming projects. Most of the time will be for questions and comments from the public. Participants can also provide feedback on the Washington State Transportation Commission’s fare proposals. Advance registration is required to attend via Zoom at noon Wednesday, May 21, and 6 p.m. Thursday, May 22. If you’d like to submit a question ahead of time, feel free to email us. Can’t make it? Recordings will be posted on our community participation page on Friday, May 23.

International Day for Women in Maritime

Sunday, May 18, is International Day for Women in Maritime. This is a moment to recognize and honor the women who power our ferry system and the broader maritime industry. The International Maritime Organization created this day to highlight women’s roles and push for more gender balance in the field. Women are essential to our operations – aboard vessels, in terminals, and at our warehouse, maintenance facility and headquarters. Yet they make up only 22% of our workforce. We need to do more. Creating more opportunities for women strengthens our organization. When our team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, we become more resilient, innovative, and effective. We are proud to be home to many remarkable women who lead, innovate and inspire. Let’s keep moving forward, not just on days of recognition, but every day.

Oiler and Basic Engine Instructor Julie Connelly welcomes new room hires Wiper Monet Davis and Oilers Kristen Kelsey and Emma van Schaick during a recent orientation for new engine room employees. These women are part of the next generation helping shape a more balanced workforce.

Sailing stats for week of May 5-11

For the week of May 5 – May 11, we completed 98.3% of our 2,765 scheduled sailings. Of the 55 cancellations, 62% (34) were due to crewing, 15% (8) were due to schedule resets (when a boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers), 13% (7) were due to vessel-related issues, 7% (4) were due to other miscellaneous reasons, and 4% (2) were due to tidal currents.

Customer kudos

“My son and I have been regularly riding the Bremerton ferry for the last 22 years. He has autism and ferries are his favorite leisure activity. We have always travelled on weekends and have been welcomed by staff that have noticed the frequency with our visits. Even in the early years when my son caused several departure delays. They always helped find him and were instrumental in teaching him ferry etiquette which carried over to other public spaces.”

-Seattle/Bremerton route customer