HomeMy WebLinkAbout120324 - WSF Monday Matters 12_2ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Milestone
Washington State Ferries estimated it would transport nearly 300,000 people during this recent holiday. We did not reach that number, but came close with nearly 289,000 passengers carried
between Wednesday and Sunday last week with a 99.4 percent reliability during this period. There hasn’t been service reliability at this level since 2019. In 2023, more than 18.7
million people traveled on the ferries. WSF is on track to hit 19 million by the end of the year.
Spotlight
* Corrosion doesn’t wait—30% of a ferry’s maintenance budget can go toward addressing steel degradation. Tackling corrosion early keeps ferries safe, reliable, and cost-effective for
the communities they serve. This photo shows a WSF welder repairing corroded vehicle deck steel onboard Chetzemoka during a scheduled maintenance layup at the Eagle Harbor Maintenance
Facility.
WSF Weekly Media Highlights
Hopping on the gravy boat? Prepare for holiday traffic on WA ferries KIRO7
https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/hopping-gravy-boat-prepare-holiday-traffic-wa-ferries/HCW4WQYWURA5RO3GVFQMWFECC4/ <https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/hopping-gravy-boat-prepare-holiday-traffic-wa-ferr
ies/HCW4WQYWURA5RO3GVFQMWFECC4/>
Retired WSF Captain Ken Burtness believes WSF ‘has turned the corner’ San Juans.Today
https://cnl2.com/retired-wsf-captain-ken-burtness <https://cnl2.com/retired-wsf-captain-ken-burtness>
300K ferry riders expected over holiday weekend; Are the boats running on time? KOMO News
https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-state-ferry-are-boats-running-on-time-holiday-weekend-rush-washington-state-department-of-transportation-island-sailing-edmonds-kingston-point-defiance-tahl
equah-routes-seattle-bainbridge-fauntleroy-vashon <https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-state-ferry-are-boats-running-on-time-holiday-weekend-rush-washington-state-department-of-transportation-
island-sailing-edmonds-kingston-point-defiance-tahlequah-routes-seattle-bainbridge-fauntleroy-vashon>
Customer Service - For the week of Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, our customer service team sent 98 rider alerts, received 1,260 customer calls, and fielded more than 110 written comments and emails
related to reservations, schedules, and fares.
Service Reliability – For the week of Nov. 25-Dec. 1, we completed 99.46% of our 2,789 scheduled sailings. Of the 20 cancellations, 50% (10) were due to tides, 40% (8) were for schedule
resets, and 10% (2) were due to crewing. There were no cancellations due to vessel availability.
Vessel Availability
We’re operating at our 15-vessel current service level, adding a 16th “bonus” boat seven days a week on the Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon “Triangle” route when crewing and vessel availability
allows.
Jumbo Mark II Conversions/New Vessels/Terminal Electrification
Hybrid Conversions – Upgrades to the Wenatchee propulsion system and installation of electric power equipment is expected to be completed and return to service in summer 2025. Significant
work has been completed to date to include removal of two propulsion diesel generators, installation of electric power conversion and distribution equipment, upgrades to obsolete propulsion
control equipment, reconfiguration of piping systems, and build-out of two new battery rooms. The Tacoma conversion will not happen until the Wenatchee returns to service.
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’ve received three
pre-qualification packages from shipyards across the country.
Terminal Electrification – WSF is in the process of planning and designing charging infrastructure at 16 of our ferry terminals. This effort begins with ensuring that each terminal will
be able to secure sufficient energy through collaboration with local utilities. Community engagement and predesign work is underway for the first four terminals that will be equipped
with vessel charging systems – Seattle, Bremerton, Bainbridge and Clinton.
WSF Community Engagement and Government Relations
* Tuesday, Nov. 19 – Presentation to Bainbridge Island City Council on terminal electrification
* Wednesday, Nov. 20 – San Juan Islands Schedule Update Task Force meeting
* Wednesday, Nov. 20 – Bremerton Ferry Advisory Committee meeting
* Wednesday, Nov. 20 – Vashon Ferry Advisory Committee meeting
* Thursday, Nov. 21 – Ferry Advisory Committee Executive Council meeting
Hadley Rodero (she/her)
Deputy Director – Planning, Customer & Government Relations
Washington State Ferries/WSDOT Ferries Division
hadley.rodero@wsdot.wa.gov <mailto:hadley.rodero@wsdot.wa.gov>
mobile | 206-818-3813