WSF Weekly Report | More HS vessel tours; new quality assurance dept; a nice kudo from SJs

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

A message from Steve

Continuous improvement, fueled by lessons learned, is essential for any organization striving for operational excellence. I’m excited to share some news from Washington State Ferries as we continue our journey towards operational excellence: the recent establishment of our new Department of Quality Assurance, Sustainability & Environment. Essentially, its focus will be on learning from incidents large and small, and ensuring that we implement corrective and preventative action plans to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Chief Sustainability Officer Kevin Bartoy will lead this new team, also serving as our designated person ashore.

The new department will operate with four main pillars: quality assurance, sustainability, environmental compliance and safety management systems. A representative from our Operations, Vessel Engineering and Maintenance, Terminal Engineering, and Safety and Security departments will serve on a committee to make sure that their departments are held accountable for the implementation of their lessons learned, with agreed plans and timelines.

The establishment of this Department of Quality Assurance, Sustainability & Environment marks a significant step forward for us. By prioritizing continuous improvement and excellence through this new team and Kevin’s leadership, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future.

Northwest Career and Technical Academy students get behind-the-scenes, hands-on vessel tour

We’ve really ramped up the frequency of our vessel tours for highschoolers so they can see firsthand what a maritime career with us is like. For the past two Wednesdays, we hosted a group of students from Northwest Career and Technical Academy aboard one of our ferries in the San Juan Islands. During a roundtrip sailing between Anacortes and Friday Harbor, they got a behind-the scenes look at how our deck and engine room crews operate while meeting with crewmembers. These tours are part of our partnership with Core Plus Maritime, we’re reaching more youth in the region as we aim to strengthen our high school workforce pipeline. We also work closely with Maritime High School, hosting nearly three dozen of their students last week on a tour of our Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route.

Our staff showed the Northwest Career and Technical Academy students how we respond to rescue situations, including putting on firefighting gear.

The highschoolers got a chance to participate in a hands-on fire drill aboard Sealth.

Students from Northwest Career and Technical Academy tour the Sealth engine room.

Recap of Fauntleroy terminal replacement project public meetings

We held two virtual meetings this week for the public to learn more about progress on our Fauntleroy terminal replacement project and review the range of alternatives we’re considering. We heard questions about how the project aligns with population growth and our 2040 Long Range Plan, how we will maintain service during construction, environmental impacts and the benefits of a new terminal. Attendees also asked about project cost and schedule, as well as alternatives that were eliminated and items outside of the project scope, such as remote vehicle holding or the possibility of a second slip. There was also interest in learning more about proposed intersection changes and how it will improve vehicle queuing along Fauntleroy Way Southwest, along with Good To Go! and other options for increasing efficiency. If you missed the meetings, be sure to visit the online open house before it closes on May 24. Recordings of the meetings will be posted to the project website next week.

Weeknight closures of SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge begin Monday, May 13

The State Route 104 Hood Canal Bridge will shut down weeknights to all travelers several times starting Monday, May 13, through the morning of Tuesday, June 11. The 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. closures (view dates) are required so crews can upgrade and replace key elements of the bridge over four weeks. This weather-dependent work was originally planned to occur over four weekends in summer 2023 but was separated into two phases of overnight work instead. The first phase was completed last May through June.

Customer kudos

Please know how very much I appreciate the help and service that I have consistently had in speaking to the WSF Reservation agents. Yesterday I spoke to Marlene [Ybarra, info agent], and today to Colleen [Pierson, info agent], both of whom were knowledgeable, welcoming, and friendly. Even during busy and stressful times over the past few years, the telephone agents have been very helpful and patient.

I live on Orcas Island. I do not own an iPhone or other portable internet device, just a flip top phone. Therefore, I depend on the WSF telephone agents to help me when I’m off-island, and also, I depend on them when the computer ticketing system is not working properly for some reason. I hope you will pass on my thanks to all of your WSF Reservation agents.”

-Anacortes/San Juan Islands route customer