WSF weekly update includes an approval of fare increase

||| FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

“Global shortage of experienced mariners”

We’re not the only marine transportation system dealing with a lack of crewmembers. Following BC Ferries’ cancellation of a couple sailings last week due to a staffing shortfall, the company’s president and CEO said the service disruptions were caused in part by a “global shortage of experienced mariners.”

We know this situation very well, as our dispatch team has been working in overdrive for more than a year now to staff our vessels. We hired a few oilers a couple months ago and continue to recruit deckhands. However, we’ve been having trouble finding qualified mariners – evidence that there is a shortage at least in our region, and possibly the world.

Tour of Kitsap Transit’s ferry facility in Bremerton

I had the honor of joining Gov. Jay Inslee and WSDOT Secretary Roger Millar on a tour of Kitsap Transit’s passenger-only ferry facility in Bremerton on Friday. In support of multimodal transportation with our partners at Kitsap Transit, we watched as they showed off their new hybrid electric foot ferry, Waterman. It was great to discuss all our mutual efforts in electrifying public transit!

At Kitsap Transit’s passenger-only ferry facility at the Bremerton Transportation Center, adjacent to our facility in Bremerton.

Transportation Commission approves fare increases

The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) adopted increases to our current fares on Tuesday. Both passenger and vehicle fares will go up 2.5 percent on Oct. 1, 2021, and again on Oct. 1, 2022. The WSTC also adopted a policy change decreasing the required number of people considered a vanpool from five to three people, adjusting the fares accordingly.

Eagle Harbor staff repairs slip at Colman Dock

Just a few days after posting our behind-the-scenes video about how our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility is so vital to our operations, the facility’s employees demonstrated just how important they are in keeping our system running. On Sunday, Aug. 1, one of our two working slips at Seattle’s Colman Dock had a problem with the hoist cable on the transfer span. This forced us to juggle our Bainbridge and Bremerton sailings, using only a single slip. Our Eagle Harbor staff quickly located parts needed for repairs and were able to fix the problem by the following evening. Great work!

Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility Boilermaker Brian Roe working on repairs to a hoist cable on Slip 3 at Colman Dock.

COVID-19 vaccines at Bremerton terminal

Staff from Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) have been setting up a COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic on some afternoons at the Bremerton Transportation Center, right outside our terminal. They’ll be out there once again from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Aug. 12, and during those same hours the next two Wednesdays, Aug. 18 and 25.