HomeMy WebLinkAbout091624 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.
Classroom On the Water
Over the past three years, Washington State Ferries has taken significant steps to address our crewing challenges, particularly as we face the reality that 50% of our licensed officers
will reach retirement age within the next five years. Acknowledging this challenge, we’ve made it a priority to develop career pathways that not only prepare our workforce for the future
but also build long-term resilience within the organization.
Our efforts began by focusing on our unlicensed employees, ensuring they have the necessary support and time to obtain the qualifications required to advance into leadership roles such
as Captain. We established programs that help employees acquire their U.S. Coast Guard mate’s license and support licensed mates in obtaining their Class 1 Pilotage. These internal
initiatives have been critical in addressing upcoming retirements, promoting workforce equity, and creating a sustainable talent pipeline.
In response to the well documented global shortage of mariners, we expanded our approach beyond internal development programs. One key initiative is the introduction of a high school-to-pilothouse
pathway, which includes a full-ride scholarship program. This pathway is designed to take individuals with no prior maritime experience and guide them into licensed deck officer positions
within 2.5 years. By offering an alternative route into maritime careers, we are tackling the shortage directly.
Another crucial element of this strategy is our partnership with Maritime High School. Through the newly created Classroom on the Water program, students enrolled in the Running Start
program gain hands-on experience aboard our ferries, providing them with real-world exposure to vessel operations, both on the deck and in engine rooms, sparking early interest in maritime
careers. Next summer, we hope to expand this program to middle schoolers who are considering applying to Maritime High School, offering them an opportunity to “test the waters” before
they apply.
Together, these efforts have set us on a clear path to overcoming the crewing challenges we face today. More importantly, they are designed to ensure that these challenges do not resurface
in the future, providing long-term stability for Washington State Ferries and cultivating the next generation of maritime leaders.
Spotlight
With funding from Governor Inslee and the legislature, WSF has created new programs to address crewing challenges. This has led to several successes, one being the Able-bodied sailor
to Mate programs. Thanks to these efforts, we already have 15 people signed up for New Mate Orientation (NMO), meaning we are able to conduct the NMO in October—months earlier than
planned. Typically, these orientations happen in January or February, as we wait for enough candidates to complete their pilotage qualifications to be eligible. This accelerated timeline
is a clear indication that we’re making tangible progress in preparing for the wave of upcoming retirements and building a stronger, more resilient workforce.
WSF Weekly Media Highlights
Drop in crew-related cancellations helping WSF improve sailing numbers in 2024 <https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2024/09/06/washington-state-ferries-ferry-cancellations-decline-in-2024/7509373200
7/> – Kitsap Sun (Also attached)
Washington State Ferries: Adventure Awaits <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiRZUaFSsgY> – KOMO News 4
Navigating staffing challenges: The realities behind WSF’s Interisland Service <https://www.islandsweekly.com/opinion/navigating-staffing-challenges-the-realities-behind-wsfs-interisland-service/>
– Islands’ Weekly
Major Milestones of the Week
System Electrification
160-Auto Ferry: Issued Addendum 4 to pending invitation for Bid. This addendum adds requirements for the pending Special Prequalification submittal related to program management. This
will help ensure participating shipyards have the program management capacity to be successful with the new construction program. Prequalification packages are due on 25 September.
Quality, Health, Safety, & Environment
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) signed the Biological Opinion for our WSF Maintenance and Preservation Programmatic
Consultation for the Endangered Species Act. It applies to all projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), or the state
of Washington, and subject to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. It is a great example of streamlining to achieve mutual goals of environmental conservation while also keeping our
transportation infrastructure safe and functioning.
Service Reliability*
For the week of September 9-15, systemwide service reliability was 98.2%. Last week, we cancelled 50 of 2829 scheduled sailings. Of those cancellations, 59% (32) were due to crewing,
26% (14) 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), 4% (2) were due to a vessel
being out of service, and 7% (4) for schedule adjustments.
*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, adding a 16th “bonus” boat on the Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon “Triangle” route when crewing and vessel availability allows.
Last week, the bonus boat returned from Port Townsend/Coupeville on Monday, available for additional service the rest of the week.
New Vessels and Jumbo Mark II Conversions
New Vessels – The contracting process for new vessels continues and we’re in active discussions with industry about the terms of the Invitation for Bid we released. 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
Wednesday, September 11 – San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee
Upcoming Public Meetings - On September 24 and 25, we will host virtual public meetings to look ahead to fall service, look back on WSF’s summer season, update the public on the latest
in workforce development and new vessels and answer questions. This is in addition to the two rounds of public meetings we’ve already held in 2024. Links to register for the two public
meetings are here: Community participation | WSDOT (wa.gov) <https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries/about-us/community-participation>
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