WSF Weekly Report | Cat saved at Clinton terminal, photos w/crews in the field

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

Out in the fleet on our Point Defiance/Tahlequah route

My coworkers on the boats and at our terminals have the most interaction with our customers and are our most visible public-facing employees. That’s one reason Deputy Assistant Secretary Nicole McIntosh and I like to spend time out in the fleet as much as possible, listening to what they have to say. We visited our Point Defiance/ Tahlequah route late last week, chatting with both the engine room and deck crews working aboard Salish, as well as the terminal staff at Point Defiance. Every time we’re out in the field, we learn so many new things about what it takes to keep our system running 24/7, 365 days a year!

In the Salish engine room with Oiler Michael Lavache, Chief Engineer Chris Kalinski and Oiler Carson Nicholls.

In the Salish pilothouse with Capt. Eric Hairston, Quartermaster Robert Cook and Chief Mate Ian MacInnis.

With Point Defiance Terminal employees Shenqin Wang-Heffner and Craig Fanarow, as well as Terminal Supervisor Jim Nicholson.

Transportation planning company tours Colman Dock, Wenatchee

We hosted 15 people from the Nelson/Nygaard transportation planning firm for a tour of construction progress on our Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project and aboard Wenatchee last week. The group won the opportunity as part of a silent auction to raise scholarship funds for the Women’s Transportation Seminar Puget Sound Chapter. It’s always great to share what we do with our transportation partners. Also, thank you to our Wenatchee deck and engine crew for their hospitality!

In addition to enjoying time on the outdoor deck, our visitors got an up-close look at the Wenatchee pilothouse and engine room while in transit to Bainbridge Island and back.

Kitsap crew frees feline at Clinton terminal 

Our crew aboard Kitsap was told of a paw-carious situation yesterday: A kitten was seen roaming on an in-water terminal structure at Clinton. During their initial search, they spotted the cat in the water. The crew launched a rescue boat and retrieved the kitty as it clung to an offshore piling. Once ashore, they handed the feline over to our Clinton terminal employees, who created a comfortable kennel out of materials. The kitten was transported to the South Whidbey Animal Clinic for a check-up… and to see how many more lives it has remaining.

Tribal canoe journey through the weekend

You may see tribal canoes while riding our ferries over the next several days! Known as the Paddle to Muckleshoot this year, the annual tribal canoe journey is underway. Look for canoes on our Puget Sound routes now through this weekend, all leading up to a celebration hosted by the Muckleshoot Tribe July 31 through Aug. 6.

“I was on the Ferry from Edmonds to Kingston 1st of July 7:10pm. I was amazed at the kindness of the crew when I locked my keys in my car on the ferry. Talk about a panic attack! I was afraid I’d have to stay on the ferry.

“The staff acted like a pit crew. Not giving up, they were able to get it unlocked. 1 then two then 3 all working together. I was the second to last off but they did it! I commend these folks that work on the ferry! Praises to them!”

-Edmonds/Kingston customer