Weekly WSF report | Walla Walla grounding update, Earth Day, Anacortes tollbooth update

||| FROM NICOLE MCINTOSH for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

Update on Walla Walla grounding incident

Passengers and crew departed the grounded Walla Walla in a vessel-to-vessel transfer onto Kitsap Transit passenger-only ferries to return to Bremerton terminal.

We have begun an internal investigation in what caused Walla Walla to lose propulsion power and run aground in Rich Passage Saturday afternoon. I want to thank the captain and the crew for their quick thinking and decisive actions, which led to no one aboard the Bremerton to Seattle sailing getting hurt. When the crew realized the ferry was going to run aground, they immediately deployed the anchor to slow down the vessel and then warned passengers to brace for impact. Once aground, crewmembers immediately made sure everyone put on a life preserver and deployed slides in case an immediate evacuation became necessary. Fortunately, that was not the case.

Passengers and crew departed the grounded Walla Walla in a vessel-to-vessel transfer onto Kitsap Transit passenger-only ferries to return to Bremerton terminal.

Once crewmembers confirmed the safety of those on board, they worked with naval architects and determined it was best to wait for Walla Walla to float free with the rising tide and be towed back to Bremerton terminal overnight. People who drove onto the vessel were asked to return Sunday morning to retrieve their vehicles. While that was happening, divers inspected the hull of the ferry and found no structural damage. However, some repairs are needed before Walla Walla can return to service.

Six trucks from our WSDOT Incident Response Team towed vehicles with no one to drive them off Walla Walla Sunday morning and left them at Bremerton terminal.

Six trucks from our WSDOT Incident Response Team towed vehicles with no one to drive them off Walla Walla Sunday morning and left them at Bremerton terminal.

Thank you to the U.S. Coast Guard, Washington State Patrol and local first responders for the prompt response and support. We’re also very grateful to our transit partner Kitsap Transit, particularly the crews of their passenger-only ferries Commander and Waterman, for help in evacuating those aboard Walla Walla and safely returning them to Bremerton. We need to acknowledge the crewmembers of Sealth as well, for sailing extra hours Saturday night, going from Vashon Island to Colman Dock to ferry people home to Bremerton following several large events in Seattle. In addition, much appreciation to the passengers affected for their patience and understanding through the incident. And finally, thank you to all our vessel crewmembers for the hard work and training you do to ensure the safety of everyone on our ferries!

Earth Day

Saturday, April 22, is Earth Day, and in honor of the annual event, we want to share how we’re making our ferry system the most sustainable in the world! Two years ago, we released our updated Sustainability Action Plan: 2021-2023, which included more action-oriented focus areas and set challenging ambitious goals with measurable results. I’m proud to say that we’ve met many of those goals, including:

• Reduced engines used on our Jumbo Mark II class vessels from three to two, which led to 20% less engine hours overall and a 10% savings in fuel used per nautical mile traveled.
• Implemented operational solutions, such as slowing in the vicinity of cetaceans, for all vessels to reduce underwater-radiated noise levels by 50%.
• Developed mandatory sustainability training for all our employees.
• Incorporated sustainability into community engagement plans for all our projects.
• Completed habitat area mapping for all our terminals, Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility and relevant adjacent locations to better understand and improve the natural resources we steward every day.
• Established a team to provide collaborative management of stormwater for all our facilities to reduce pollution and protect endangered salmon and other species.
• This will be the second year we fly a “Green Marine Certified” flag on all our operating vessels on Earth Day as a display of our commitment to environmental sustainability. Green Marine is the premier environmental certification program for the North American maritime industry.

On Earth Day four years ago, we launched our first Sustainability Action Plan 2019-2021 as one effort to implement the sustainability recommendations, goals and actions laid out in our 2040 Long Range Plan. We’re currently drafting our next Sustainability Action Plan for the 2023-2025 biennium based on community and customer engagement, and plan to release it in the coming months. Provide feedback on either the current plan or the next plan by sending us an email. Happy Earth Day… we’re working hard to be stewards of our environment!

Anacortes terminal tollbooth replacement project

After delays due to global supply chain issues, work to replace the more than 50-year-old tollbooths at our Anacortes terminal will begin on Monday, May 1. Plan for possible travel delays getting through the tollbooths as up to two of the four tollbooths may be closed. The project is scheduled to be complete in the fall.

Accessibility improvements at Tahlequah terminal

We recently finished some accessibility improvements at our Tahlequah terminal. At the intersection where the dock meets Southwest Tahlequah Road, upgrades were made to the sidewalk and bus stop, and new ADA parking stalls were added. This work is in addition to our 2021 shoreline restoration project that improved the forage fish habitat and better protected the terminal from erosion.

Change for bicyclists boarding a ferry in Seattle

If you bike on board at our Seattle terminal, be aware that you must now enter the vehicle holding lanes through the tollbooths to buy a ticket or scan your ORCA card in the northern lane. This change is due to the construction of a new plaza along Alaskan Way as part of the Colman Dock project.

Hundreds of bicyclists on Vashon Island routes Sunday, April 23

The annual Ride for Major Taylor will bring hundreds of bicyclists to our Vashon Island routes Sunday, April 23. Plan for possible delays and limited vehicle capacity as participants cross the island. Expect a lot of bikes on our Point Defiance departures from 9:15 a.m. to 12:35 p.m., then on sailings from Vashon to Fauntleroy from midmorning through the afternoon. Drivers should consider alternate travel times or routes. Participants are asked to follow directions from our staff and Cascade Bicycle Club volunteers at the terminals and on our vessels.

Online open house for Olympic Peninsula summer roadwork

If your summer plans include travel on the Olympic Peninsula, you’ll want to visit WSDOT’s online open house. There will be numerous work zones for construction and maintenance projects along US 101 and State Routes 19, 20 and 104. Visit the online open house, the WSDOT app and our travel center map so you can know before you go!