WSF Weekly Report | Thanksgiving; winter schedules; Amazon deliveries to San Juans

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

A message from Steve

In this season of gratitude, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone at Washington State Ferries who will be working over the Thanksgiving holiday. While many of us gather with family, our vessel deck and engine room crews, terminal employees, customer service agents, dispatchers, watch center supervisors and maintenance teams will be on duty. They’ll be working to keep our system running smoothly, ensuring that everyone relying on us can get where they need to go. Their dedication and commitment to service exemplify the values that keep our ferries moving and our communities connected. I am deeply grateful for their contributions.

If you see one of our employees on Thanksgiving, please consider thanking them for their hard work.

Thanksgiving weekend ferry travel

Plan for extra travel time if you’re catching a state ferry over Thanksgiving weekend. We expect nearly 300,000 riders Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 1. People boarding in a vehicle should prepare for long lines and wait times. To help navigate the holiday crowds, download our mobile app or visit our website before heading to the terminal. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, there will be a few schedule changes on some routes. Holiday sailings are marked on the schedules for each route.

The busiest sailings for vehicles will likely be westbound (or onto an island) Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 27-28, then eastbound (or off island) Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30

Winter weather preparations

Thanksgiving weekend is also a reminder that winter is right around the corner. In January, we learned valuable lessons on what to keep a close eye on during record cold events. That includes water supply, sewage pumping needs and restroom access. With regular updates from our employees, we can respond quickly and efficiently. It’s important for our staff to have the tools and support they need to make smart decisions during winter weather. Being prepared is key, so we’ve stocked up on salt, deicer and shovels to keep customers safe. We also have space heaters to stop pipes from freezing. Terminals have been upgraded to better handle cold temperatures, with things like heat tape and freeze-resistant valves. Portable toilets are also on standby should the restrooms go out of service.

2025 licensed deck officer scholarship recipients

Our apprenticeship program is a great opportunity for people who want to become a mate or captain on our ferries. This week, we’re excited to announce our 2025 class of recipients for the two-year, full-ride scholarship. The 12 individuals begin training in January. This program is in partnership with the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies. It develops students to become licensed deck officers. Watch a video on what members of our 2024 class have to say about the program. Congratulations to Chloe Bell, Joseph Dominguez, Jordan Erickson, James Fraser, William Gelvick, Keaton Kinnaman, Emily McArthur, Michael Montgomery, Joseph Pierce, Malinda Poirier, Sarah (Shattuck) Shearer and Ashley Ulrich.

Our 2024 class in training. This apprenticeship program prepares those with no maritime experience to be licensed deck officers, one of our most in-need crewing position. Photo courtesy MITAGS.

Naval Base Kitsap Job Fair

That scholarship is one of many ways we’re looking to build a stronger and more diverse workforce. Another is the military, which is a proven pipeline. We employ many veterans and their family members. Last week, we showcased our career opportunities at the Naval Base Kitsap Job Fair. It was a great opportunity to connect with service members, veterans and their families to share how they can bring their expertise to our team. Thanks to our Workforce Outreach Coordinator, Adam Dahl, for representing us. Kudos as well to members of our Ferry Advisory Committees for making us aware of this valuable opportunity. We’re proud to offer jobs that let veterans continue serving in a new way.

Our booth at last Thursday’s Naval Base Kitsap Job Fair at Olympic College in Bremerton.

Kent-Meridian High School students tour Walla Walla

We’re also focused on reaching young people in our area. We work with programs like Core Plus Maritime to show students the many opportunities in maritime careers. The best way to do this is by giving them a realistic look at life at sea. Last Thursday, we hosted students from Kent-Meridian High School aboard Walla Walla. They got a behind-the-scenes tour during a roundtrip sailing between Seattle and Bremerton and had a chance to talk with our crew. Through Core Plus Maritime, we regularly give high school students vessel tours. Bainbridge High School students will visit next month.

Kent-Meridian High School students interested in a maritime career in the Walla Walla engine room during a vessel tour last week.

Pacific Marine Expo Maritime Economic Forecast Breakfast

I had the honor of speaking at the Maritime Economic Forecast Breakfast this morning. It was held in conjunction with the Pacific Marine Expo. We addressed challenges and opportunities in the maritime and fishing sectors. My speech covered our efforts to modernize and electrify our fleet, improve workforce development and change our workplace culture. Other speakers included leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, Washington Maritime Blue, The Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program and Maritime High School. The event was presented by the Seattle Propeller Club, the Port of Seattle and King County Maritime. More than 300 industry leaders attended. It was great to network as we look to foster more innovative partnerships like those mentioned above.

I was one of five keynote speakers at the breakfast at the Lumen Field Events Center. The others were leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, Washington Maritime Blue, The Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program and Maritime High School.

Bainbridge City Council presentation on traffic control at SR 305 and Winslow Way, terminal electrification

We attended a Bainbridge City Council meeting Tuesday evening to talk about two important topics for the community. Deputy Director of External Relations Hadley Rodero shared updates on traffic changes along State Route 305 near the terminal. She discussed recent improvements like better signal timing, clearer roadway markings and more traffic control. She also outlined plans to improve traffic flow and reduce line cutting, such as adding new signs and restricting right turns from Winslow Way. System Electrification Program Administrator Matt von Ruden and Senior Marine Engineer Jon Donahue gave updates on our electrification efforts. They explained how we are working with Puget Sound Energy and the city to prepare the Bainbridge terminal for vessel charging without affecting local electrical service. All three also answered the council’s questions. It’s important to keep local governments updated on our plans and listen to their ideas, concerns and feedback to work together successfully.

Partnership with Amazon brings faster deliveries to the San Juan Islands

And speaking of partnerships, we’ve teamed up with Amazon to improve access to goods in San Juan County. Starting this week, Amazon is delivering packages directly to the islands instead of using the U.S. Postal Service. To help with this, we’ve set aside rarely used parking spots at our Friday Harbor terminal for their delivery vehicles. This should make it easier for people in the San Juan Islands to get what they need without making extra trips. It also reduces pressure on USPS deliveries throughout the county.

Sounders flags to fly on downtown Seattle vessels Saturday, Nov. 23

Congrats to the Seattle Sounders FC for securing a spot in the Western Conference Semifinal of the Major League Soccer playoffs! To celebrate, we’ll proudly display the team flag on Saturday, Nov. 23, aboard all three ferries operating out of Colman Dock. That evening, the Sounders play Los Angeles FC in Southern California. The winner moves on to the Western Conference Final, bringing them one step closer to the MLS Cup. Let’s go, Sounders!

All our Bainbridge and Bremerton route ferries will fly the Seattle Sounders FC flag Saturday, Nov. 23, in support of the team’s MLS Cup playoff match that evening at Los Angeles FC.

Sailing stats for week of Nov. 11-17

For the week of Nov. 11-18, we completed 98.89% of our 2,787 scheduled sailings. Of the 33 cancellations, 16 were due to crewing, 14 because of tidal currents and three 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).

Customer kudos

“Just want to give a huge shout out to the MV Salish today. The captain(s) and crew were absolutely fantastic navigating the water between Pt Defiance and Tahlequah ferry dock. J Pod spent all afternoon spread wide across the ferry lanes. They made sure to slow down or stop whenever necessary. They also made sure to let the passengers aboard know that they were out there. Many people saw whales today in part due to this crew. Thank you for an awesome day!”

-Point Defiance/Tahlequah customer in the Nov. 15 Orca Network Whale Sighting Report

Next Weekly Update will be Thursday, Dec. 5

There will be no Weekly Update on Thursday, Nov. 28. Wishing everyone a warm and happy Thanksgiving. We’ll catch up in our next Weekly Update on Thursday, Dec. 5.