HomeMy WebLinkAbout063025 - WSF Monday Matters (June 30)ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
WSF Monday Matters
Next phases of service restoration start this week
Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth 3 boat service
Today, the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth “Triangle” route returned to full three-boat service for the first time since October 2021. Service is increasing on three routes <https://links-1.govdelivery.
com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdotblog.blogspot.com%2F2025%2F05%2Fguess-whos-back-back-again-2-boat.html/1/01000197c2c1d81f-3d76d88e-d53e-448e-b0fa-882c1d509f21-000000/rH-RlGK3oSWOPEjOYO6PCbH8ugGqhe84is_YPYGs
NMc=411> between mid-June and early July.
There may be times when the Triangle route will shift back to two-boat service. Through a public process, Washington State Ferries has a new, updated Triangle two-boat schedule <https://links-1.govde
livery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2FFerries%2FSchedule%2Fscheduledetailbyroute.aspx%3Fschedrouteid=2338%26route=f-v-s/1/01000197c2c1d81f-3d76d88e-d53e-448e-b0fa-882c1d509f21-000000/h4HXfwtAuFIjrKX
nIj7LiveZqn3LmihMM9K_-zpGcj8=411> . This backup schedule will be used when the route is reduced to two vessels or when only a smaller, slower third boat is available. We will work to
make those disruptions as rare as possible. More information on these unplanned service disruptions can be found in WSF’s Service Contingency Plan <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fw
sdot.wa.gov%2Ftravel%2Fwashington-state-ferries%2Frider-information%2Frider-updates/1/01000197c2c1d81f-3d76d88e-d53e-448e-b0fa-882c1d509f21-000000/qL-cri-ojxH2YOqJKzU9rj2YL4BhibP_V94UHdqvWt0=411>
.
Fourth of July – Additional Port Townsend/Coupeville Service
This weekend we are preparing to welcome nearly 400,000 Independence Day weekend travelers. We’ll also be adding service for our Port Townsend/Coupeville riders. Starting July 4, a second
boat will run every Friday through Monday through the end of the route’s shoulder season on Oct. 13. This is the third and final step in WSF’s plan to return to nearly full pre-pandemic
domestic service, three years earlier than originally planned.
As a reminder, it is against the law to set off or transport fireworks aboard a state ferry.
Completed Sailings
For the week of June 23 – June 29, we completed 98.71% of our 2,878 scheduled sailings. Of the 44 cancellations, 41% (18) were due to tidal currents, 30% (13) were 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), 21% (9) were due to terminal-related issues, 7% (3)
were due to vessel-related issues, and 2% (1) were due to an emergency.
Customer Service Alerts
For the week of June 23 - 29 - our customer service team sent 215 rider alerts, received 4,678 customer calls, and fielded more than 280 written comments and emails related to reservations,
schedules, and fares.
Vessel Availability
Today we have taken the second of three steps toward 18-vessel service, allowing us to return to almost full domestic service – three years earlier than originally planned:
* The Seattle/Bremerton route returned to its two-boat schedule on June 15.
* The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth “Triangle” route will resume its pre-pandemic three-boat schedule daily beginning Monday, June 30.
* A second vessel will operate on the Port Townsend/Coupeville run every Friday through Monday from July 4 through the end of the route’s shoulder season on Oct. 13.
The reality of adding service: We’ll need to crew three more daily boats for this added service. While we've done a lot of hiring and career development in recent years, we will have
fewer available relief crew members. This could mean more cancellations due to a shortage of crew.
Hybrid Conversions/New Vessels/Terminal Electrification
Hybrid Conversions – We have taken possession of the Wenatchee and moved the ferry from Vigor’s shipyard in Seattle to Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island. Work continues to ready the
vessel for service, train the crew, and obtain U.S. Coast Guard re-certification.
New Vessels – Bids for new hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries were received and are being reviewed and analyzed.
Terminal Electrification – Vessel charging system proposals have been reviewed and an award announcement is expected soon. The Bainbridge Island Terminal Electrification Project and
Seattle Terminal Electrification Project will conduct in-water exploration in June. Results will inform project designs.
7CED-61Vezina, John