||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
Chimacum crew helps rescue 11 people in Elliott Bay
Capt. Erik Hohl and the Chimacum crew assisted the Seattle Fire Department in rescuing 11 people out of the water near Colman Dock Saturday night. The group was squid fishing in Elliott Bay when their boat lost its engine, drifted toward our Seattle terminal, then capsized. Our crew members deployed rescue boats and recovered everyone before handing them off to SFD. No one was hurt thanks to the quick thinking and life-saving action of our crew!
Chimacum crewmembers assist in the rescue of 11 people after their boat (foreground) capsized Saturday night near Seattle’s Colman Dock.
Interferry Conference
I attended the 45th Annual Interferry Conference in Santander, Spain this week. In addition to exchanging experience, ideas and contacts with people in the ferry industry from around the world, I had the honor of participating in two panels – one featuring ferry leaders and the closing ceremonies. This year’s sessions focused on solutions for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, innovative ship and shore design technologies, ferry safety and safety systems, attracting tomorrow’s customers and supply chain logistics. It was also illuminating to find out that just about every ferry system is facing pandemic-related crewing challenges, but helpful to hear how they are dealing with recruiting and adjusting service.
With Niclas Martensson of Stena Line (Sweden), Spiros Paschalis of Attica Group (Greece) and Mark Collins of BC Ferries (Canada) during a ferry leaders panel session. Photo courtesy Interferry.
FTA administrator tours Seattle and Mukilteo terminals
Last week, WSDOT hosted Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Nuria Fernandez for a tour of our terminals in Seattle and Mukilteo. The FTA has provided more than $242 million for our Colman Dock project and $72 million for our new Mukilteo terminal. We appreciate FTA’s incredible support, and that of Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, as well as Rep. Rick Larsen, in replacing two of our aging terminals. Their support will continue to be important as we transition our fleet to hybrid-electric power.
State Sen. Marko Liias, Tulalip Tribes of Washington Vice Chairman Glen Gobin, Chief of Staff Nicole McIntosh, WSDOT Secretary Roger Millar, FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez and FTA Regional Administrator Linda Gehrke at Mukilteo terminal.
Mock WSF vessel serves as centerpiece of new Bainbridge playground
A custom-built play structure made to look like one of our vessels is the centerpiece of a new Bainbridge Island playground. The M/V KidsUp! at Battle Point Park opened last month. The playground was built by the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, with fundraising by the nonprofit Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation.
The M/V KidsUp! at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island. Photo courtesy Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation.
New Mukilteo terminal wins engineering award
Tribal Liaison Phillip Narte, Howard Fitzpatrick of LMN Architects, Andy Bennett of KPFF and Project Engineer Charlie Torres.
Our new Mukilteo terminal recently won the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Large Project of the Year (greater than $10 million) award for Region 8, which includes most of the Western U.S. along with Alaska, Hawaii and Western Canada. The award was presented at a virtual gathering on Sept. 24. The project moves on to compete for the ASCE national award. Congratulations!
#FerryFotoContest voting next week on Twitter
Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo on Twitter last week for our #FerryFotoContest! We are in the process of selecting six finalists based on originality, technicality, composition, artistic merit and overall impact. The finalists’ pictures will be posted on the @wsferries Twitter page at noon Monday, Oct. 11. The top three images with the most “likes” at noon Friday, Oct. 15, will be named the winners and their photographs will be featured on our Winter 2022 Sailing Schedules!
“[…] When I purchased my ferry tickets I went to Bainbridge Island line on accident. […] I noticed it was 10 a.m. and a ferry was loading up. I thought to myself, “Hey it’s 10 a.m., I thought my boat was loading at that time. In that moment I realized I was in the wrong line. I steadily walked to Paul [Laush, terminal attendant] the dock attendant on this day and explained my situation. He was completely understanding and took care of everything I needed to make my ferry ride […].” -Seattle/Bremerton customer
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I am speechless.
I am also at a loss for words.
This is the most tone deaf weekly update that I have ever seen from an organization who is faltering on so many levels. Not a single mention of the struggles that are having serious and dire impacts on all of our island communities. Lack of basis connections to the rest of the world. Supply chain issues. People struggling to get to serious medical treatments.
Do you really think that those of us who depend on the ferries for our basic livelihood care one bit about a conferences, awards and playgrounds when WSF is in abject failure?