HomeMy WebLinkAbout051225 - Washington State Ferries Monday Matters (May 12)ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
WSF Monday Matters
Today Washington State Ferries opened bids from prequalified shipyards to build up to five new, hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries. Three shipyards were prequalified to bid, and we received
bids from two: Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Florida and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland, Washington. WSF will continue to evaluate the bid documents and supporting
information before we award.
Customer Service
For the week of May 5 – May 11, our customer service team sent 114 rider alerts, received 2,351 customer calls, and fielded more than 220 written comments and emails related to reservations,
schedules, and fares.
Service Reliability
For the week of May 5 – May 11, we completed 98.3% of our 2,765 scheduled sailings. Of the 55 cancellations, 62% (34) were due to crewing, 15% (8) were due to schedule resets (when a
boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers), 13% (7) were due to vessel-related issues, 7% (4) were due to
other miscellaneous reasons, and 4% (2) were due to tidal currents.
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.
Hybrid Conversions/New Vessels/Terminal Electrification
Hybrid Conversions –Upgrades to the Wenatchee propulsion system and installation of electric power equipment is moving toward a summer return to service. There is still work to inspect
and commission the vessel’s systems at the shipyard before WSF takes possession of the vessel. After WSF takes possession, weeks of work will begin to train the crew, ready the vessel
for service, and obtain US Coast Guard re-certification.
New Vessels – The contracting process for new hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries reached a milestone. The engineers’ estimate will be compared to contractor bids to inform funding and
contracting decisions. The bids will be evaluated using each shipyard’s combined price for two ferries.
Terminal Electrification – Vessel charging system proposals are under review with award expected this month. The Bainbridge Island Terminal Electrification Project will drill into the
ground to collect soil samples in the SR305 corridor from April 21 to May 1. Results will inform the project design, which includes a conduit along SR305 necessary to make power available
at the terminal to charge hybrid-electric ferries. The project is in phase 2 design with a plan to advertise for construction contractors in July 2026.