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Home My WebLink About082123 Final WSF Sunday Service UpdateCounty and city elected officials representing WSF-served communities, With continuing kudos and appreciation to our incredible dispatchers, service has been, or soon will be, restored on nearly every route: * Point Defiance/Tahlequah at 7.35am * Port Townsend/Coupeville at 11am * Seattle/Bainbridge at 1.20pm * Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon at 1.30pm * Clinton/Mukilteo at 4pm * San Juan Islands Interisland route at 5.50pm. Unfortunately, we have not been able to fill a relief request for this evening on the Point Defiance/Tahlequah, so service on that route was suspended again at 4.05pm, for the rest of the service day. As I’ve written in my other two emails, we get it – our customers expect reliable service and today’s disruptions will lead to understandable frustration. What’s also true, is my colleagues, who care about our passengers and focus every day on getting them safely to their destinations, are working hard, with the resources the governor and legislature have provided, to get us to that better day. John From: Vezina, John Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2023 10:57 AM Subject: Update: WSF Sunday Service Disruptions County and city elected officials representing WSF-served communities, Good morning. Dispatchers have been able to restore service on the two routes on which it was completely suspended this morning – Pt. Defiance/Tahlequah (at 7.35am) and Port Townsend/Coupeville (at 11am). They continue to work on restoring two-boat service on the Seattle/Bainbridge, Clinton/Mukilteo, and Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon routes as well as the suspended San Juan Islands “Interisland” route. Regular passenger alerts are being sent to keep customers updated on service levels. Last night and this morning I received a couple of replies asking if this crewing issue is unique to WSF and what can be done. First, although unlike U.S. ferry systems, B.C Ferries can recruit internationally, as these five recent articles illustrate, they are not immune from crewing availability challenges: Why B.C. Ferries cancellations persist and what needs to be done | Vancouver Sun <https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/why-b-c-ferries-cancellations-persist-and-what-needs-to-be-done- to-fix-it> B.C. Ferry commissioner looking at fare hike of 9.2%, minister says 3% | Vancouver Sun <https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/bc-ferry-oks-annual-fare-hike> B.C. Ferries in damage control before busy long weekend | Vancouver Sun <https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-ferries-in-damage-control-before-busy-long-weekend> Continued hiring, training, patience required as ferry demand surges | Vancouver Sun <https://vancouversun.com/opinion/nicolas-jimenez-continued-hiring-enhanced-training-and-patience-requ ired-as-ferry-demand-surges-in-b-c> B.C. Ferries struggles with rising costs, shortage of staff | Vancouver Sun <https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-ferries-struggles-with-rising-costs-shortage-of-staff> And neither is the Alaska Marine Highway system, as explained in this Friday article <https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/08/18/alaska-marine-highway-system-hit-by-national-maritime-staffing-short age/> . We’ve read similar stories about the Staten Island Ferry system. You have given us the resources necessary to build back, funding new programs aimed at training and recruitment, but as the attached two graphics show, it takes months to years for our most senior licensed deck and engine room officers to get the credentialing necessary to address our most significant crewing needs. And finally, to our other constraint – vessels – here is an article from today’s Seattle Times <https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/as-washingtons-ferry-fleet-ages-why-arent-we-b uilding-new-boats/> , detailing WSF’s new vessel procurement history and process. As I said last night, a lot of hardworking and committed staff are working both to add service today and increase our crewing and vessel availability in the future. We appreciate any patience our customers can muster while we do so. John From: Vezina, John Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2023 10:13 PM Subject: WSF Sunday Service Disruptions County and city elected officials representing WSF-served communities, Despite the best efforts of our tireless dispatchers, management, and other dedicated colleagues, we are short crew members on several routes tomorrow. This is the end of “week two” of our two-week crewing cycle, when people have worked 40+-hour weeks, plus overtime, and it’s more challenging to fill relief requests. At this time, the following routes will have Sunday service disruptions: * The San Juan Islands’ Interisland boat will be out of service, likely until evening. We know this is particularly impactful with the county fair this weekend and have worked hard to avoid tying it up, as we did today, but there is no one available to fill a vital role. * Service on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route will be suspended until we can fill a relief request on the boat serving the route. * The Seattle/Bainbridge, Clinton/Mukilteo, and Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon “Triangle,” routes are likely to be on one-boat service to at least start the day, due to multiple missing positions. Our dispatchers have made every call possible, some working on overtime, trying to fill relief requests, but there are still 10 unfilled watches for tomorrow. They will begin calling again early tomorrow morning, but with safety and U.S. Coast Guard crewing level requirements always our first priorities, we won’t be able to restore service until the relief requests are filled. We understand the impacts of service disruptions, especially on a summer weekend, but current crewing availability challenges remain a reality. Please let me know if you have questions. Best, John John B. Vezina Director Planning, Customer and Government Relations Washington State Ferries <https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries> Cell: 206.473.9945 P0AAADBBQqVPej5EAAAwQUalT3o+KgAAsEEsAACwQS4AANBBMAAA0EFIAAAAQUoAAABBTAAA0EFOAADQQQAKdgBpAHQAYQBsACAAcgBvAGwAZQDHClkAHMHNFBAHHbAiAACAPzIAADRCAgAAAEASAACAPxb36SU7FACARUQaAAAfRByhGE4/HgAAH0QgoRhOPyIAABh DJNUFRT4mAAAYQyjVBUU+7gEAAIA/NAAAgD82YQu2PDgAAARCOry7Oz88AAAEQj68uzs/QAAAMEFCpU96PkQAADBBRqVPej4qAABAQiwAAEBCSAAACEJKAAAIQgAEYgBvAGEAdADHCvIcq8DNFBAHIbAiAACAPzIAADRCAgAAgD8SAACAPxb36aU6FACARUQaAAAkRB zEk1Q/HgAAJEQgxJNUPyIAAAVDJBtlLD4mAAAFQygbZSw+7gEAAIA/NAAAgD82YQu2PDgAAAhCOhdsQT88AAAIQj4XbEE/QAAAIEFCOY5jPkQAACBBRjmOYz4qAACQQSwAAJBBLgAAQEAwAABAQEgAAJBBSgAAkEFMAABAQE4AAEBAABBvAG4AZQAtAGIAbwBhAHQAI ABzAGUAcgB2AGkAYwBlAMcKz9Mbwc0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAANEICAAAAQBIAAIA/FvfpJTsUAIBFRBoAAChEHBTDWT8eAAAoRCAUw1k/IgAA6EIkCFwWPiYAAOhCKAhcFj7uAQAAgD80AACAPzZhC7Y8OAAADEI6chxHPzwAAAxCPnIcRz9AAAAQQULNzEw+RAAAEEFG zcxMPioAAEBBLAAAQEEuAAAwQTAAADBBSAAAQEFKAABAQUwAADBBTgAAMEEAGm0AdQBsAHQAaQBwAGwAZQAgAG0AaQBzAHMAaQBuAGcAIABwAG8AcwBpAHQAaQBvAG4AcwDHChM+QcHNFBAHHbAiAACAPzIAADRCAgAAQEASAACAPxby3ng7FACARUQaAIAqRBymAF0 /HgCAKkQgpgBdPyIAANJCJO0ZCD4mAADSQijtGQg+7gEAAIA/NAAAgD82YQu2PDgAAAxCOnIcRz88AAAMQj5yHEc/QAAAEEFCzcxMPkQAABBBRs3MTD4qAACwQSwAALBBSAAAsEFKAACwQQAIbwB2AGUAcgB0AGkAbQBlAMcKt6+mwM0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAANEICAA CAPxIAAIA/FvfppToUAIBFRBoAwC1EHBc3YT8eAMAtRCAXN2E/IgAAvEIko6/zPSYAALxCKKOv8z3uAQAAgD80AACAPzZhC7Y8OAAAEEI6zcxMPzwAABBCPs3MTD9AAAAAQUJhCzY+RAAAAEFGYQs2PioAACBBLAAAIEEuAACMQjAAAIxCSAAAIEFKAAAgQUwAAGBBT gAAYEEABnMAYQBmAGUAdAB5AMcKzZSmwM0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAANEICAACAPxIAAIA/FvfppToUAIBFRBoAADREHANRaT8eAAA0RCADUWk/IgAAikIkPuCyPSYAAIpCKD7gsj3uAQAAgD80AACAPzZhC7Y8OAAAEEI6zcxMPzwAABBCPs3MTD9AAAAAQUJhCzY+RAAA AEFGYQs2PioAAAxCLAAADEIuAAA0QjAAADRCSAAAIEFKAAAgQUwAAMhBTgAAyEEAB2kAbQBwAGEAYwB0AHMAxwoQKZnAzRQQByGwIgAAgD8yAAA0QgIAAIA/EgAAgD8W9+mlOhQAgEVEGgBAO0QcxLZyPx4AQDtEIMS2cj8iAAAgQiR1ZE89JgAAIEIodWRPPe4BAAC APzQAAIA/NmELtjw4AAAQQjrNzEw/PAAAEEI+zcxMP0AAAABBQmELNj5EAAAAQUZhCzY+KgAAgEIsAACAQi4AAIBBMAAAgEFIAABAQEoAAEBATAAAgEFOAACAQQATcwBlAHIAdgBpAGMAZQAgAGQAaQBzAHIAdQBwAHQAaQBvAG4AcwDHCh9lHcHNFBAHIbAiAACAPz IAADRCAgAAAEASAACAPxb36SU7FACARUQaAMA7RByuXHM/HgDAO0QgrlxzPyIAABRCJIbWPz0mAAAUQiiG1j897gEAAIA/NAAAgD82YQu2PDgAABBCOs3MTD88AAAQQj7NzEw/QAAAAEFCYQs2PkQAAABBRmELNj4qAACEQiwAAIRCLgAAUEEwAABQQUgAAKBASgAAo EBMAABQQU4AAFBBAAdyAGUAYQBsAGkAdAB5AMcKoEqfwM0UEAcdsCIAAIA/MgAANEICAACAPxIAAIA/FvfppToUAIBFRBoAQD9EHBPmdz8eAEA/RCAT5nc/IgAAwEEk8t74PCYAAMBBKPLe+DzuAQAAgD80AACAPzZhC7Y8OAAAEEI6zcxMPzwAABBCPs3MTD9AAAAA QUJhCzY+RAAAAEFGYQs2PioAAKBCLAAAoEJIAACYQUoAAJhBAAhwAGwAYQBuAG4AaQBuAGcAxwqhWVfAzRQQBx2wIgAAgD8yAAA0QgIAAIA/EgAAgD8W9+mlOhQAgEVEGAAAgD8aAABDRBxuwnw/HgAAQ0QgbsJ8PyIAABBBJDanOjwmAAAQQSg2pzo8NAAAgD82YQu 2PDgAAChCOu/ubj88AAAoQj7v7m4/QAAAAEBCYQs2PUQAAABARmELNj0uAACAQDAAAIBATAAAgEBOAACAQAAUZwBvAHYAZQByAG4AbQBlAG4AdAAgAHIAZQBsAGEAdABpAG8AbgBzAMcKOV7cwM0UEAcfsCIAAIA/MgAANEICAAAAQBIAAIA/FvfpJTsUAIBFRBgAAI A/GgDAQ0QcTbt9Px4AwENEIE27fT8iAACgQCR1ZM87JgAAoEAodWTPO+wBAACAP+4BAACAPzQAAIA/NmELtjw4AAAoQjrv7m4/PAAAKEI+7+5uP0AAAABAQmELNj1EAAAAQEZhCzY9KgAAQEAsAABAQEgAAEBASgAAQEAAGHcAYQBzAGgAaQBuAGcAdABvAG4AIABzA HQAYQB0AGUAIABmAGUAcgByAGkAZQBzAMcK8+AXwc0UEAcZsCIAAIA/MgAANEICAABAQBIAAIA/FvLeeDsUAIBFRBgAAIA/GgBAREQcN2F+Px4AQEREIDdhfj8iAAAAQCT36SU7JgAAAEAo9+klOzQAAIA/NmELtjw4AAAsQjpKn3Q/PAAALEI+Sp90P0AAAIA/QmEL tjxEAACAP0ZhC7Y8AARjAGUAbABsAMcKEyJQwM0UEAcZsCIAAIA/MgAANEICAACAPxIAAIA/FvfppToUAIBFRBgAAIA/GgAARUQcFlp/Px4AAEVEIBZafz8iAACAPyT36aU6JgAAgD8o9+mlOjQAAIA/NmELtjw4AAAwQjqlT3o/PAAAMEI+pU96Py4AAIA/MAAAgD9 MAACAP04AAIA/AAA=", "@type": "KeyPhraseExtraction", "@context": "http://schema.microsoft.com", "@EntityId": "2ef18047-2fb6-4934-a3e7-a03260468832", "@extractionTimeUtc": "2023-08-20T23:35:14.4321236Z" } ]