||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
Hard landing at Fauntleroy dock damages Cathlamet and offshore terminal structure
We’re assessing the damage to Cathlamet and an offshore terminal structure at Fauntleroy dock following a hard landing of the vessel there this morning. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt.
Fauntleroy terminal is out of service until further notice but will reopen when we move the damaged ferry.
Issaquah, the other vessel on the route, is currently providing service between Vashon Island and Southworth only. People who need to travel between Vashon Island and the mainland can also use our Point Defiance/Tahlequah route. King County Metro provides walk-on passenger ferry service between downtown Seattle and Vashon Island.
We are working with the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board in investigating the cause of this morning’s hard landing. We do not know yet how this incident will affect service across our system, but we’ll keep you posted on any changes.
State legislative transportation policy staff tours our terminals and vessels
We hosted a two-day tour of our terminals and vessels and our maintenance facility at Eagle Harbor last week for staff from the governor’s office, legislature, Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) and WSDOT headquarters. During the tour, we discussed the recruiting, hiring and training efforts underway to address our crewing availability challenges, terminal and vessel needs, and system electrification. I was pleased to join the group for a tour of two Puget Sound shipyards, visits to two terminals and for a discussion on workforce and infrastructure needs. I’m proud to work with these women and men committed to Washington’s transportation system.
Ferrying 33 dump trucks to Orcas Island
We know we are a lifeline for our riders and communities we serve. That’s why we were happy to support San Juan County’s Public Works Department to make sure that asphalt for a road resurfacing project arrive in time for use. Last week, we worked with the project’s contractor to facilitate a timely transport of 33 dump trucks filled with asphalt to Orcas Island.
Dump trucks fill the tunnel on the car deck of a ferry
Check out the sight of all those dump trucks filling the tunnel on the car deck of Yakima!
Fall vehicle reservations now available
Vehicle reservations are now available for our fall season, which runs from Sept. 25 through Dec. 31. For our Anacortes/San Juan Islands route, 30% of available space has been released, another 30% opens two weeks prior to each sailing date, the final 30% will be available two days prior, with the remaining 10% saved for emergency and stand-by vehicles. On our Port Townsend/Coupeville run, all reservations (80% of available space) are available, with the remaining 20% saved for emergency and stand-by vehicles.
Green Marine certification
Green Marine is the premier environmental certification program for the North American and European maritime industry. We became the first U.S. ferry operator to join in 2018 and we received our first verified certification in 2020. As part of the program, we’re required to be verified every two years. Last month, we earned our second certification, improving in waste management and underwater noise.
In waste management, we’ve created a preliminary waste inventory for our operations and are currently working to develop a waste management plan, which is our next step to achieving zero waste. We improved in underwater noise because of the work of our vessel crews and operations center staff do in reporting whale sightings to the Whale Report Alert System. We’ve also developed our first Underwater Noise Mitigation and Management Plan for the Protection of Marine Mammals.
Great job and thank you to the daily work of all my colleagues in moving forward in our environmental sustainability efforts!
“Shout out to the Port Townsend and Coupeville deck hands and ferry crew who helped to reunite me with my wallet July 25 evening. I’m so grateful! Your kind efforts are noticed! Hats off to you all!”
-Port Townsend/Coupeville customer
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