In WSF weekly check-in: Upcoming meeting, Orca action month, happy WSF 71st birthday

||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

Join us for a virtual public meeting, June 14 or 15

Mark your calendar! We’re hosting two virtual public meetings to provide our customers with insight about the coming months and respond to questions and concerns. Advanced registration is required to participate in the 1 p.m. Zoom meeting on Tuesday, June 14, or the 6 p.m. Zoom meeting on Wednesday, June 15. Both meetings will cover the same material and are designed to give participants the option to join the meeting that best fits your schedule.

During the community meetings, we will give a brief presentation on upcoming summer service, hiring challenges and our process to restore service to pre-pandemic levels.

ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development

We have a big presence at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) International Conference on Transportation & Development this week in Seattle. In addition to WSDOT Secretary Roger Millar serving as conference co-chair and a plenary session moderator, there was a breakout session yesterday featuring Washington State Ferries executives discussing our sustainability efforts. We also had a table where attendees could talk to our IT staff about marine internet connectivity and technology challenges. Tomorrow, we will host some attendees on a tour of the Colman Dock project, a Seattle/Bainbridge ferry ride and our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.

Chief Sustainability Officer Kevin Bartoy; Planning, Customer, and Government Relations Director John Vezina; Ferry System Electrification Program Administrator Matt Von Ruden; Terminal Engineering Director David Sowers and Marine Operations Director Steve Nevey conduct a discussion on our sustainability efforts

IT Infrastructure Supervisor Kyle Ilk and IT Infrastructure Support Technician John McKay talk to conference attendees.

Hosting Cal Maritime cadets aboard Tacoma

Workforce development is vital as we build back our crewing personnel and look to the future. To encourage more people to consider a career with us, we hosted a group of cadets from California State University Maritime Academy aboard Tacoma last week. The cadets were in town as part of the academy’s summer cruise on Training Ship Golden Bear. While at Cal Maritime, license-track students are trained in everything from deck operations to ship stability and navigation. Each summer, they go to sea either aboard the Golden Bear or a commercial vessel to put those skills to use and prepare for a career in the maritime industry.

Thank you to Capt. Stephen Phillips and the crew of Tacoma for hosting a group of cadets from Cal Maritime on Friday, May 27.

Orca Action Month

June is Orca Action Month and a good time to share how we’re helping to protect and spread awareness of southern resident killer whales. In addition to our continued partnership with Orca Network, we’re one of the top whale reporters for Ocean Wise’s Whale Report Alert System, which we use to provide our crews with accurate and updated location information for large marine mammals. We also serve on the Leadership Committee of Quiet Sound, a collaborative program to reduce the effects of noise from large commercial vessels on orcas. In addition, we’re a member of the Port of Vancouver’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program’s Advisory Working Group and serve on several of the ECHO’s technical committees. And finally, we’re a partner in the state’s recently launched Southern Resident Orca Recovery website.

The vast majority of our employees have successfully completed the Whales in our Waters online training tutorial.

Happy birthday to us!

This week, we’re celebrating 71 years of safe and efficient service! On June 1, 1951, Washington State Ferries began operations following the state’s purchase of the ferry system from Puget Sound Navigation Company (Black Ball Line). Happy birthday to us!

Seattle Post-Intelligencer news article from June 1, 1951, our first day of operations.

50-year gold stripe goes up on Spokane 

Spokane is 50 years old in 2022! To mark the occasion, a gold stripe was painted on its center stack during the vessel’s recent maintenance period at our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility. Built in 1972, Spokane is the first of two Jumbo-class ferries. Next year, Walla Walla will get its gold stripe, which signifies 50 years in service.

Marion Street exit at Colman Dock to close next week, June 7-9

For three days at our Seattle terminal next week, all vehicles will once again exit at Yesler Way during specific hours. That’s because the recently reopened Marion Street exit will be closed daily from 4 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 7-9. During the closures, Seattle Department of Transportation crews will drill a shaft into Alaskan Way that will support the future Marion Street Pedestrian Bridge. Stay updated with our rider alerts for information on additional exit closures throughout June.

Edmonds terminal repaving work

Work began this week to resurface and restripe portions of the pavement at our Edmonds terminal. The mostly evening and overnight work should have minimal effects on operations. Crews are grinding out the old pavement this week and are scheduled to repave next week if the weather cooperates. If there are no delays, the work should wrap up by the end of the month.

“Thank you to the Washington State Ferr[ies] system for allowing those who wish to spread their loved one’s ashes in Puget Sound the ability to do so. […] My son, daughter and I were able to spread my husband, David’s ashes at Turner Point on our way to Friday Harbor. [Chief Mate Janel Offley] and [Deckhand Pharaby Ryan], were so gracious and respectful of our wishes. They listened to us when we mentioned that David had been a diver for urchins. Janel asked the captain to go towards Turner Point so he could be in ‘urchin country.’

“An announcement was made by the captain of the ferry that they were slowing down for a memorial ceremony. We were joined by other passengers. After the ashes were placed in the water, 3 horn blows were made according to maritime honor. Janel took pictures for us but stayed a distance away to allow us some privacy. For the stress we went through trying to figure out how we were going to follow David’s wishes, the ferry system made it easy.”

-Anacortes/San Juan Islands customer