WSF Weekly Update | Honoring veterans; orca encounter; new souvenirs

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

A message from Steve

Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served our country with courage and dedication. I’m proud that so many veterans work here at Washington State Ferries. Throughout our organization – from our boats, terminals, warehouse, maintenance facility and headquarters – we are fortunate to have them on our team. They bring unique skills, experiences and perspectives shaped by their time in the military. Their dedication to public service continues every day in the work they do to keep communities connected. Each one of them – and all veterans – deserve our deepest respect and gratitude for the commitment they made protecting the values of the nations they serve.

On Veterans Day, all our ferries in service will fly the flag of one of the six military branches (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force) or the Merchant Marine flag. They will also fly the POW/MIA flag to honor those who were prisoners of war or went missing while serving.

I’ve always felt a personal connection to Veterans Day as both my father and grandfather served in the British Armed Forces. Their sense of duty and pride left a lasting impression on me. My dad’s time in the navy sparked my own interest in a life at sea and ultimately, a career in maritime. On Tuesday, Nov. 11, we will honor all military personnel with a whistle salute. All operating ferries will sound their horn at 11:11 a.m., recognizing the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. This is a small, but heartfelt tribute to veterans within our organization and across our region. To all who have served, thank you for your service!

Dates set for midday Mukilteo/Clinton route closures early next year

We’ve finalized the schedule for construction work that will affect service on our Mukilteo/Clinton route in early 2026. We plan to suspend service for four hours midday on these nine dates:

• Tuesday, Jan. 6
• Thursday, Jan. 8
• Friday, Jan. 9
• Tuesday, Jan. 13
• Friday, Jan. 16
• Tuesday, Feb. 3
• Wednesday, Feb. 4
• Friday, Feb. 6
• Monday, Feb. 9

On these days, the last morning sailings will be 8:30 a.m. from Clinton and 9 a.m. from Mukilteo. Service will resume at 1 p.m. from Clinton and 1:30 p.m. from Mukilteo. Crews will use this time to make critical repairs to an in-water structure at Mukilteo terminal. If dates change due to weather, marine mammals or other unexpected reasons, we will share alternate dates through rider alerts and on X and Bluesky.

Mukilteo terminal’s west wing wall is being repaired and repositioned after being damaged in 2022. These updates will help keep the in-water structure safe and strong for years to come.

Also, on Monday through Friday nights, Jan. 19-23, 26-30 and Feb. 16-20, the route’s final roundtrip will be canceled. The last sailings will be the 11:30 p.m. from Clinton and the 12:15 a.m. from Mukilteo, 10 minutes later than normal.

Chetzemoka crew keep orcas safe during stunning scene

Sunday brought an amazing sight on our Point Defiance/Tahlequah route – dozens of orcas! Our Chetzemoka crew handled this special encounter with great care by following our policy for operating near the endangered southern resident killer whales. Their careful actions are just one way we’re working to protect marine mammals. We report sightings to Ocean Wise’s Whale Report Alert System. We also take part in Quiet Sound, the state’s Southern Resident Orca Recovery website and Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s ECHO Program (Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation). Most of our crew have completed the ECHO Program’s Whales in our Waters tutorial. Earlier this year, we worked with Quiet Sound to set up the state’s first thermal imaging camera to help spot whales at night. We also have an Underwater Noise Mitigation and Management Plan for the Protection of Marine Mammals (PDF 509KB). Thank you to our vessel crews and environmental team for your care, skill and commitment. Sunday’s spectacle is a great reminder of how your efforts truly make a difference.

One orca surfaced just feet from Chetzemoka while dozens of passengers watched. Our crew stayed mindful and ensured the whales stayed safe. Photo courtesy Matthew Pfab.

New WSF, Washington state souvenirs now available

Thanks to feedback from our customers and employees, we now offer more WSF-branded and regional-themed merchandise. Look for them in our onboard galleys, the gift shop aboard Chelan and San Juan Provisions at our Anacortes terminal. They’ll also be available at the new Puget Sound Traders in our Colman Dock terminal building when it opens next month. Our vendor focuses on products made in the USA that use American ingredients and materials. They are also prioritizing items that have compostable or recyclable features. They choose to work with small or minority-owned businesses when possible. We’re also finding new ways to display and sell merchandise, like souvenir vending machines. We’ll keep adding more items based on suggestions.

Many items are made locally. They include hats, tote bags, chocolates and keychains. Mugs, dishcloths, puzzles, plush toys and photo magnets are also available.

Sailing stats for week of Oct. 27 to Nov. 2

For the week of Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, we completed 98.3% of our 3,059 scheduled sailings. This figure is separate from on-time performance. Of the 51 cancellations, 19 were due to crewing, 19 because of vessel-related issues, eight for weather, three due to terminal-related issues, one because of an emergency and one for other miscellaneous reasons.

For comparison, during a similar week last year (Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2024), we completed 98.6% of our 2,789 scheduled sailings. Of the 39 cancellations that week, 26 were due to vessel-related issues, six because of tidal currents, four for other miscellaneous reasons and three due to 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

“I just want to thank all of the Washington State Ferry workers who graciously helped my wife and I today when our car failed to start on the 3:50 sailing from Bainbridge to Seattle. From the nice “TUG” driver who pushed the vehicle off of the boat to the dock, all of the crew of the Tacoma, especially to (terminal employee Shelley Long-Melendez) and a big THANK YOU to Mike (Waite, terminal employee)! Mike not only got us out of the ferry traffic, he also tried valiantly to try to get the car started to no avail. Next, he called us a tow truck to get the car towed to our mechanic’s shop 10 minutes away. Not the best experience to have, but all of the WSF crew made it all more bearable, today! They were courteous, professional and had positive attitudes through an embarrassing, for us, ordeal! Again, thank you from my wife and myself!

-Seattle/Bainbridge route customer