Longtime state ferry commuters: 'This is the worst it's been'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

IN PUGET SOUND ABOARD M/V SPOKANE — Suzanne Woodard couldn’t rely on the ferries to get her from Clinton to Mukilteo on time for work. So in February, she resigned from her job at Providence’s hospital in Everett.

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Woodard isn’t alone.

Roughly 6 million passengers per year count on the Mukilteo-Clinton and Edmonds-Kingston ferries to get them where they need to go.

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As of Friday, only 15 of 21 state ferries were in regular operation, with others undergoing maintenance and repairs. It leaves no wiggle room to operate a schedule that needs 15 boats at minimum.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/longtime-state-ferry-commuters-this-is-the-worst-its-been/

[RainCaster]

1. There's a big problem here

The ferry system is years behind in ordering replacement boosts. Plus, many mechanics on the boats retired instead of getting the mandated COVID vaccines. So there are few replacements for these people and they do not understand the details of keeping these boats in operation. It's a genuine mess.

[SarahD]

2. Reservations

Reservations are required to get a spot on some of the ferries, but guess what. A reservation only works if the ferry actually runs. They're debating what to do, but they seem unwilling to spend the money to make ferry jobs attractive, so workers are unwilling to commit to a career, and few of them stay around long enough to advance to critical jobs like captain or chief engineer. Plus, they have deferred maintenance and delayed building new boats, new infrastructure, etc. This is supposed to be one of the largest ferry systems in the world, but our leaders don't treat it that way. The odd part is, a job on the ferry system used to be considered a good deal and highly sought after.

[KT2000]

3. it has become unreliable

The public needs to hear the truth from the governor on this. He is taking a beating over it.

[Ferryboat]

4. Retired after 25 years

In February, #57 out the door.

WSF knew about the huge wave of retirements at least 8 years or so. What did they do to prepare?

Cut in house budget that promoted from within. Training program was the path for those who start at the bottom cleaning toilets all the way into the Captains chair if so inclined.
Restarted 2 years ago, starting to show results but will take time. Each promotion to the next level of officers training takes hundreds of hours of sea time at 8 hours day.

No one in the maritime industry will come to work for WSF when the wage scale is below industry standards so you need to promote from within. The wage scale is improving. Recent labor negotiations put my position AB bosun close to $45. Those cleaning the cabin, after probation north of $25.

Great place to work Medical Dental
5 weeks vacation
Pension

Downside?

Work EVERY holiday, birthday maybe your anniversary.
Hostile customers
Long commute sometimes

New boats?
Schedule to build new boats was blown up when Nichols Brothers shipyard engaged a squeeze play for more money last year. There are other factors, but that is the major one.

If you must ride a boat,
Motorcycle 1st on, off
Bicycles
Walkers.