WSF Weekly Report | Launch of Congressional Ferry Caucus; water rescue

||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

A message from Steve

I recently joined federal and state leaders to celebrate the launch of a new bipartisan Congressional Ferry Caucus. We’re lucky to have Washington Rep. Emily Randall as one of its co-chairs. This group will help raise national awareness about the vital link ferries provide. Many states have ferry systems, but their importance is often only seen at the local level. The caucus will help members of Congress understand that ferries are a key part of our transportation system. Certain rules prevent us from using federal money to build new boats, but we still count on congressional support for many other critical operational and shoreside needs.

(L-R) With Kitsap Transit Executive Director John Clausen, Lars Turner of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, Congressman Rick Larsen, Sen. Marko Liias, Congresswoman Emily Randall and Rep. Greg Nance announcing the formation of the Congressional Ferry Caucus at our Edmonds terminal last Wednesday.

This new caucus will be instrumental in advocating for long-term federal investments for ferry systems across the country. That funding would support not just infrastructure, but also workers, environmental sustainability and the communities that ferries serve. Here in Washington, we’ve seen firsthand how strong federal partnerships help us keep people and goods moving safely and efficiently. I thank Congresswoman Randall and Congressman Larsen, a longtime WSF supporter, for helping create this new group.

Walla Walla crew rescues 2 people near Blake Island

Two people are safe thanks to the quick actions and life-saving training of our Walla Walla crew members. On the evening of June 13, the U.S. Coast Guard got reports of people in the water near Blake Island after their canoe swamped. They asked Walla Walla to help. Our crew quickly changed course, launched a rescue boat and pulled two individuals from the water. Along with some passengers with medical training, our crew members treated them for signs of hypothermia. Emergency medical staff met us in Bremerton, checked them and released them. Read Second Mate James Kuijper’s behind-the-scenes account of the rescue and response in our blog post. We’re thankful to everyone who helped with this rescue. We are so fortunate to have so many skilled mariners out on the Salish Sea.

Our crew working aboard Walla Walla Friday evening rescued two people in the water off Manchester.

Stay out of the water near Mukilteo terminal

With summer here, we’ve seen an increase in people swimming in the water around our Mukilteo terminal. Jumping or diving off the nearby fishing pier may seem fun, but it’s extremely dangerous, especially when a ferry is coming in. The water around the dock can get rough, and the powerful wash from our vessels can pull someone under. Our captains stop far offshore if they see anyone in the water, which can delay service. The Port of Everett recently posted new signs on their fishing pier to warn against this risky behavior, and local law enforcement will be there to help enforce the rules. Please stay safe and out of the water near our ferries.

New signs at the fishing pier adjacent to our Mukilteo terminal remind visitors to stay out of the water. Photo courtesy Port of Everett.

Celebrating Pride

Seattle Pride will bring hundreds of thousands into our region this weekend in honor the LGBTQ+ community. Pride is about visibility, belonging and honoring the strength it takes to live authentically in a world that hasn’t always made space for that. Washington State Ferries is committed to treating all people fairly. It’s our aim to offer an inclusive environment for all our employees and customers. In observance of Pride, we will be flying the rainbow flag on our downtown Seattle-running ferries (Bainbridge and Bremerton routes) and at Colman Dock on Friday, June 27, through Sunday, June 29.

We flew the Pride flag on Kennewick in recognition of Port Townsend Pride on June 7.

Honoring Tokitae, the ferry and the whale

We’re hosting a special event with Orca Network aboard Tokitae on our Mukilteo/Clinton route Sunday, June 29. From noon to 4 p.m. there will be a celebration for both the ferry and the whale it was named after. We’ll unveil a new mural in the passenger cabin and updated educational displays that honor the mammal’s life and her deep connection to the Salish Sea. In 2012, Orca Network promoted the name Tokitae for our next new ferry, which went into service 11 years ago this month. The southern resident killer whale is also known as Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut or Lolita. She was captured near Whidbey Island’s Penn Cove in August 1970. “Toki,” as she is affectionately remembered, spent 53 years in captivity at Miami Seaquarium in Florida before her death in August 2023.

The inaugural sailing for our ferry Tokitae was on June 30, 2014.

New vending pavilion at Mukilteo terminal

A new vending pavilion called Point Elliott Provisions is open at our Mukilteo terminal. It’s at the front of the vehicle holding lanes near the restrooms. The area is run by our onboard food galley vendor, Sodexo Live! There are several machines that sell food, snacks and drinks. Whether you’re waiting in your vehicle or just passing through, Point Elliott Provisions makes it easy to grab something quick.

This new vending pavilion recently opened at the front of the vehicle holding lanes at our Mukilteo terminal.

Sharing our dock for a worthy community cause

Each summer, we are proud to help Camp Goodtimes by loaning them our Vashon passenger-only dock. This special partnership has been going strong for 36 years. It allows campers to take a fun boat ride donated by Argosy Cruises. It’s often the highlight for hundreds of children with cancer and siblings during their weeklong stay at Camp Burton on Vashon Island. We’re always looking for ways to give back to the communities we serve and are proud to keep this special tradition going.

We loaned our Vashon terminal passenger-only dock to Camp Goodtimes’ first of two camps on Tuesday. We’ll loan it again in July.

Sailing stats for the weeks of June 9-15, June 16-22

For the week of June 9-15, we completed 97.6% of our 2,784 scheduled sailings. This figure is separate from on-time performance. Of the 67 cancellations, 26 were for schedule resets (when a boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers), 17 because of crewing, 10 due to tidal currents, 10 for other miscellaneous reasons and four because of terminal-related issues.

For the week of June 16-22, we completed 99.1% of our 2,878 scheduled sailings. Of the 31 cancellations, 13 were for schedule resets (when a boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers), seven due to vessel-related issues, five because of other miscellaneous reasons, two for emergencies, two due to crewing and two because of tidal currents.

Customer kudos

“I want to say a HUGE thank you to the crew on the Tacoma yesterday (6/9/2025). My car had died and couldn’t be restarted by the crew. We had not only the car deck crew but also the engine crew come and try to restart the car. They were kind and patient but the battery completely shut down the car. In my panic I didn’t get the names of all the crew members. I wanted to write to let them know how much I appreciated the crew’s kindness and professionalism throughout the whole ordeal. Again, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!”

-Seattle/Bainbridge route customer