||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
Kitsap crews help rescue person in water off Mukilteo
Our Kitsap crewmembers were part of a team of first responders that rescued a person off Mukilteo Sunday evening. Witnesses on shore called 911 after they said a man jumped into the water stating he was going to swim to Whidbey Island. Because the man did not want help, a negotiator from Mill Creek Police Department boarded our Kitsap rescue boat to talk to him. He eventually cooperated and was brought safely to the Mukilteo Boat Launch. Great job to everyone involved!
Our crew in a rescue boat talking to other first responders, which included the Mukilteo Police, Mukilteo Fire and Mill Creek departments. Photo courtesy Lynnwood Times.
Service restoration update
Although we’ve been seeing our highest number of COVID-19 cases among our crews since the pandemic started, this week’s Service Restoration Plan (PDF 794KB) Progress Report (PDF 603KB) shows that we are still maintaining service reliability of 95% or more on our three restored routes. We have also been able to add a second vessel on our Edmonds/Kingston run more than half the time over the last two weeks and will continue to do so daily as crewing allows. However, we are still not at a point yet where we can begin trialing full service reliably on the route without putting our other runs with restored service in jeopardy.
Twelve of our able-bodied sailors will soon start four months of training to become licensed deck officers (captains and mates), which is our biggest crewing constraint right now.
Out in the fleet on Bremerton and Bainbridge routes
I always love when I go out in the fleet and talk to my vessel and terminal operations colleagues. Chief of Staff Nicole McIntosh and I visited our Bremerton and Bainbridge routes yesterday to hear suggestions from our frontline coworkers, who are constantly interacting with our customers on what we can do to improve our system. We started the day meeting with our Colman Dock employees in Seattle. We then chatted with crews aboard Walla Walla en route to Bremerton. Upon arrival we spent time with the terminal staff there before heading to the Bainbridge to take to employees there as well. We then rode on Wenatchee and Kaleetan to chat with staff before heading back to Seattle. There’s so much that goes into keeping our ferry system running!
Nicole and I pose for a selfie with Bremerton terminal employees Tim Ouellette and Celeste Beaumont.
Fall vehicle reservations open Tuesday, July 26
Vehicle reservations for our fall season (Sept. 25 to Dec. 31) on our Anacortes/San Juan Islands or Port Townsend/Coupeville routes will be available at 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 26. For our Anacortes/San Juan Islands runs, another batch of reservations will be released two weeks before each specific sailing. The remaining space on each sailing will be available two days before.
Seeking proposals for hybrid-electric vessel construction
We’re moving toward a hybrid-electric ferry system to reduce greenhouse gases and improve local air quality. We recently released a Request for Information for design-build teams to build five new hybrid-electric vessels. These new ferries, along with plans for 11 future vessels, are required to be built in Washington in accordance with state law. Interested firms are invited to submit voluntary responses by 5 p.m. Aug. 29. We expect to issue a Request for Proposals in October. Learn more about our electrification efforts by watching this video.
Rental scooter drop-off at Colman Dock
If you use a rental scooter to get to our Seattle terminal, please be sure to keep all entryways and exits clear, especially on the upper level of the facility. The best place to drop off rented scooters is on the sidewalk along Alaskan Way before entering Colman Dock.
“RAVE to the wonderful staff at the Coupeville Ferry Terminal. When I had misplaced an elderly relative, the entire staff put aside what they were doing to notify the police, the troopers and another ferry terminal. One person even provided water for my thirsty dogs. I am grateful for their kindness and concern.”
-Port Townsend/Coupeville customer in The Seattle Times
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