HomeMy WebLinkAbout083024 - Port Townsend Wooden Boat FestivalALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Senators Van De Wege & Muzzall, Representatives Chapman, Tharinger, Paul, & Shavers, Jefferson County Commissioners Dean, Eisenhour, & Brotherton and Island County Commissioners Bacon,
Johnson, & St. Clair,
Good afternoon.
We understand one-boat service on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route has been challenging for our passengers and the businesses who rely on our vessels to deliver customers and goods.
We know two-boats on the route is especially important during major events like Port Townsend’s Wooden Boat Festival. With elected officials, the route’s two ferry advisory committees,
and the public requesting additional service for the festival next weekend, my Operations, Vessels, IT, and Customer Service colleagues have worked hard to make a boat and crewing available.
While crew availability is still a variable system-wide, we have a plan to move a second boat to the route on Thursday, September 5, operating it:
* Friday, September 6 – 10am-6pm
* Saturday, September 7 – 8am-6pm
* Sunday, September 8 – 8am-4pm
Importantly, WSF Technology Services has worked with Customer Service and with record speed, added reservations for the second boat to the system. We saw customers making those reservations
within minutes of them being added.
As I wrote above, while we’ll have the second boat crewed for the weekend, last minute relief requests may cause service disruptions. We’ll do everything we can to avoid them, but cannot
sail without U.S. Coast Guard required crewing.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
John
John B. Vezina
Director, Planning, Customer and Government Relations
Washington State Ferries