||| FROM KOMO-TV SEATTLE |||
From cancellations to aging vessels, Washington State Ferries (WSF) continues to face these issues.
Engineers working on those ferries said crew shortages are to blame.
“It’s the lack of qualified people that are able to do this job, we don’t have enough people to be able to operate and we can’t resolve that issue that’s on the state,” said Roland Rexha, with the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.).
The M.E.B.A. is expected to hold a press conference Tuesday about the impacts crew shortages are having on them and how it’s burning out their workers.
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“We can’t fill for vacancies when someone calls out sick, when they have an on the job injury or when they’re on vacation, if they’re on another form of leave, so our members are working an extraordinary amount of overtime,” said Eric Winge, WSF Representative for M.E.B.A.
Aside from the delays and cancellations, WSF continues to deal with aging vessels. WSF has 21 boats in its fleet, but only 15 are currently in service.
Workers said their hands are tied because they don’t have enough help to do maintenance and repairs.
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“These vessels have sailed much longer than their life expectancy and our members have worked hard to repair and to maintain these vessels but at a certain point you can’t keep up,” said Winge.
Ferry workers tell me they are asking for WSF officials to retain and recruit experienced members to improve service.
