WSF Weekly Report | Weather, service, SJC marine training

||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

Winter weather, crewing challenges affecting service

Due to the winter weather, an increased number of breakthrough COVID cases among our crews and ongoing staffing shortages, most routes will remain on their alternate service schedules through at least Saturday, Jan. 1. That’s one-boat service on all routes except our Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth runs, where we will operate two boats. Additional service may be added daily as crewing availability allows. I encourage riders to sign up for our rider alerts to receive an update each night and morning on what schedule we’re operating on each route.

Kudos to our terminal employees and vessel crews for braving the winter weather and going above and beyond to keep our riders safe.

Because of the reduced service, we have suspended new two-day vehicle reservations for our Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville runs. By eliminating these new reservations, we are better able to provide transit to those with existing reservations made two weeks or more in advance. In addition, for at least Sunday, Jan. 2, our first day of our winter sailing schedules, we will operate on a first-come, first-served basis with reservation holders prioritized. This allows us flexibility if we can’t crew all three boats in the San Juan Islands (the fourth Interisland vessel does not operate weekends on our winter sailing schedule) that day.

Added late-night New Year’s sailings for Seattle routes

Our sailings out of Seattle are typically busy late New Year’s Eve into early New Year’s Day. To increase capacity and available space for physical distancing, we worked with our crews to provide the following added departures Friday night, Dec. 31 into Saturday morning, Jan. 1:

• 11:40 p.m. Bremerton to Seattle
• 12:50 a.m. Seattle to Bremerton
• 12:55 a.m. Bainbridge to Seattle
• 1:35 a.m. Seattle to Bainbridge

With New Year’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, today, tomorrow and Sunday are expected to be our busiest. It is against the law to set off or carry fireworks aboard a ferry.

Tomorrow, Dec. 31, our Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth run will operate on a Saturday timetable. On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, all routes will operate as a typical Saturday.

Governor’s supplemental budget plan supports recruitment, electrification

Gov. Jay Inslee released his 2022 supplemental budget plan earlier this month. His proposal includes strong support for hiring new employees, ferry system electrification and new vessels, requesting full funding for constructing our first new Olympic-class hybrid-electric vessel, as well as a second, convert the second of three Jumbo Mark II-class ferries to hybrid electric, and adding charging stations at three terminals. I look forward to working with legislators next year, supporting the governor’s budget and its funding for vessel deck and engine room crews, a new dispatch system and desperately needed new ferries.

The governor’s budget plan also includes more resources and better tools for recruiting and retaining qualified personnel.

Loss of employee

I am sorry to share that we lost a member of our WSF family last week. David Taylor was killed in a car crash on Dec. 21 as he drove home from his shift. He was an oiler aboard Samish. Icy weather in the Bellingham area is a suspected factor. At 9 a.m. today, all vessels underway at the time blasted their whistles, followed by a moment of silence in David’s honor. My heart and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues here at WSF.

Marine training workshop for San Juan County residents, Jan. 29

Are you a San Juan County resident aged 18 and older looking to start a new career in maritime? I encourage you to register for the San Juan County Economic Development Council’s (EDC) Marine Training Initiative workshop on Saturday, Jan. 29! The workshop, “Getting Started in Maritime Careers,” will be at Seafarers Worldwide in Anacortes and provide hands-on experience with mariner skills. Participants who successfully complete the workshop may then apply for coaching and financial support for their Merchant Mariner Credential. This is an amazing opportunity if you want work with us!