HomeMy WebLinkAbout072224 email - WSF Weekly Service UpdateALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
WSF Weekly Media Highlights
Ferry captains ask fishers to give them space on the water <https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/ferry-captains-ask-fishermen-space-on-the-water/281-761d3f99-df5b-452b-b46c-e747e939c0f0>
(KING-5)
Washington State Patrol boosts line-cutting enforcement at ferry terminals <https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-state-patrol-boosts-line-cutting-enforcement-at-ferry-terminals-fines-delays-roa
d-rage-breaking-the-rules-drivers-warning> (KOMO News)
Major Issues of the Week
As reflected in the graph below, with data through yesterday, WSF sailing cancellations due to crewing have risen to levels not seen since last September. We were excited to see cancellations
due to crewing trending down, toward 2021 numbers, so it’s disappointing to see the recent increase.
It’s important to remember at the beginning of every sailing season, every vessel is fully crewed. When people make vacation relief requests, we fill them. But, if people call in at
the last minute, due to being sick, childcare, a flat tire on the way to work, or any other reason, we cannot sail until that position is filled. This year, the legislature provided
us with new funding to add an Ordinary Sailor (Deck) and Oiler (Engine Room) to every sailing, but if we don’t have the U.S. Coast Guard crewing necessary to sail for those, or other,
positions we cannot until the relief request is filled. Filling those requests is, of course, a priority, second only to safely operating every sailing. Unfortunately, this is even
more challenging for the Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes, especially the Interisland, who, like Vashon Island, are wholly reliant on our service, due to the time it takes to get reliefs
to Anacortes or Friday Harbor.
While last week was better than the week before (97.2% reliability over the previous week’s 92.6%), we understand every sailing affects our customers. As you’ll read in the attached
email Assistant Secretary Nevey sent all WSF staff this morning, WSF employees are working hard to provide as much service as possible with the crewing and vessels we have available.
Service Reliability*
For the week of July 15-21 systemwide service reliability was 97.2 (92.6% the previous week). Last week, we cancelled 84 of 2829 (218 of 2829 the previous week) scheduled sailings,
of which five were replaced. Of the 84 cancellations, 61% (51) were due to crewing, 32% (27) for schedule resets (when a boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get
it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers), and 7% (6) were due to tidal current cancellations on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route. On a positive note, there were
no cancelled sailings last week due to vessel mechanical issues.
*For WSF, “reliability” refers to a scheduled sailing taking places, not on-time-performance. We understand for the public a significantly late sailing isn’t “reliable,” but we also
share on-time-performance data <https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/wsferries/viz/WSF-Public/Index> for transparency on both metrics.
Vessel Availability
We’re operating at our 15-vessel current service level. Over the weekend we were able to add a 16th vessel for “bonus boat” coverage on the Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon route, supporting
heavy ridership during Vashon’s Strawberry Festival, but due to crewing, that route went down to one-boat service after 5.40pm on Saturday evening. The island also has the Pt. Defiance/Tahlequah
route at the south end of the island, another option for those traveling to/from Vashon, but it means a longer drive around for those heading north.
New Vessels and Jumbo Mark II Conversions
New Vessels – Last week, we signed a contract with ABB <https://new.abb.com/us> to serve as the propulsion system integrator for our first five new vessels. ABB brings extensive experience
in marine electrification and will support functional design efforts, shipbuilder contracting, supply of propulsion-related equipment, oversight of vessel construction – particularly
the hybrid electric propulsion system – and crew training. We’ll be working closely with ABB over the next few months to refine our functional design and prepare the technical volumes,
the next steps of the Invitation for Bid, for release later this year. We are still scheduled to deliver two boats in 2028.
Hybrid Conversions – Work continues on the Wenatchee, the first Jumbo Mark II vessel undergoing its long-planned midlife propulsion upgrade. That work includes on-going coordination
with the shipyard on when the conversion will be completed and the vessel ready to return to service.
WSF Community Engagement
Tuesday, July 16 – Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal Replacement Project Community Advisory Group
Wednesday, July 17 – San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee
Wednesday, July 17 – Coordination meeting with WSDOT Olympic Region and City of Bainbridge Island on SR 305 traffic at the Bainbridge terminal
Thursday, July 18 – Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal Replacement Project Technical Advisory Group