HomeMy WebLinkAbout071425 - WSF Monday Matters (July 14_ 2025)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
Wenatchee In Service This Week
We’re excited to share the Wenatchee <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2Fferries%2Fvesselwatch%2FVesselDetail.aspx%3Fvessel_id=37/1/01000197f6c90332-4f3b877e-6d8a-4a94-9f37-4
7a4dc35a7d2-000000/m2pM1Jm2IgnJ7wZP0yW8APz4y92ag4mnv-L8FOk5OnA=413> will return to service this week as our first hybrid-electric ferry. It will run part-time in the evenings on our
Seattle/Bainbridge route, before returning to full-time service by the end of the month.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us get to this point. More than 600 skilled workers from Vigor shipyard and our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility worked on Wenatchee.
They removed two diesel engines, added 864 battery modules and installed thousands of feet of cable.
The boat is almost 30 years old, and now it’s ready to run for many more years. This work <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fsi=fPB_5S9zkGixuiR1%26v=INnkpQSiNQ
I%26feature=youtu.be/1/01000197f6c90332-4f3b877e-6d8a-4a94-9f37-47a4dc35a7d2-000000/AnbRBG3oQEwtK-e9AvXPV9ogHhwHAYgfI2RPtUljY2Q=413> will help us burn less fuel and lower pollution.
Wenatchee could use up to 1 million fewer gallons of diesel each year once charging stations are in place. The ferry was also cleaned from top to bottom and given a fresh coat of paint.
Completed Sailings
For the week of July 7 – July 13 – we completed 97.82% of our 3,124 scheduled sailings. Of the 78 cancellations, 41% (32) 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), 36% (28) were due to crewing, 9% (7) were for other miscellaneous reasons, 8% (6) were due to
tidal currents, 4% (3) were due to emergencies, and 3% (2) were due to vessel-related issues.
Customer Service Alerts
For the week of July 7 - July 13 – our customer service team sent 281 rider alerts, received 4,919 customer calls, and fielded more than 250 written comments and emails related to reservations,
schedules, and fares.
WSF Weekly Media Highlights
New hybrid-electric ferry transforms Puget Sound travel KING 5 <https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/infrastructure/wenatchee-makes-waves-hybrid-electric-conversion/281-5ff9ac06-e893-4ab5-957b-14
4bb113b520>
Florida shipyard to build WA’s new ferries Fox 13 <https://www.fox13seattle.com/video/1673190>
WA’s first electrified ferry sails, with 2 governors on board The Seattle Times <https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/was-first-electrified-ferry-sails-with-2-governors-on-board/>
Vessel Availability
We have now fully implemented our 18-vessel service this summer, allowing us to return to almost full domestic service – three years earlier than originally planned.
The reality of adding service: We’ll need to crew three more boats daily for this added service. While we've done a lot of hiring and career development in recent years, we will have
fewer relief crew members available. This could mean more cancellations due to a shortage of crew.
Hybrid Conversions/New Vessels/Terminal Electrification
Hybrid Conversions – The Wenatchee <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2Fferries%2Fvesselwatch%2FVesselDetail.aspx%3Fvessel_id=37/1/01000197f6c90332-4f3b877e-6d8a-4a94-9f37-47a
4dc35a7d2-000000/m2pM1Jm2IgnJ7wZP0yW8APz4y92ag4mnv-L8FOk5OnA=413> will return to service after sea trials are completed this week as our first hybrid-electric ferry. It will run part-time
in the evenings on our Seattle/Bainbridge route, before returning to full-time service by the end of the month.
New Vessels – Governor Bob Ferguson announced he has selected the $714.5 million bid from Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries.
We will move forward with the contracting process, following the first competitive bid for ferry construction in more than 25 years.
Terminal Electrification – Vessel charging system proposals have been reviewed and an award announcement is expected soon. The Seattle Terminal Electrification Project will conduct in-water
exploration in June. Results will inform project designs.