The bids came in for the conversion of the Jumbo Mark II’s, and not surprisingly, they’re above what the state expected to spend. Like 25% more. This isn’t surprising giving the state’s predilection for low-balling constructions costs on, well, everything and the fact that costs on materials, etc have greatly increased since the pandemic. The Wenatchee is due to be pulled from service this September for about a year while the conversion work takes place, Read more…
Disappointing, but not surprising… WSF is not going to be able to restore service on the Vashon Island or Bremerton routes this year as planned. While hiring is up, retirements are as well. This problem is not unique to Washington State Ferries or even Washington State. B.C. Ferries continues to have staffing issues, as does, the rest of the world. About those new boats… We’re now half-way through 2023 and there is no sign of Read more…
Not too much of a shock, but WSF’s internal investigation determined that the captain of the Cathlamet “lost situational awareness” and that was the cause of the crash, which, honestly, I believe is probably the worst I’d ever seen. In the years since the Cathlamet chewed up the docks at both Clinton and Mukilteo (Those instances were mechanical failures, as the entire Issaquah Class came to the fleet with totally whacked out propulsion systems….except, for Read more…
It’s Smarch! That part of the year that can turn on a dime and be nasty, cold, wet, and even snowy one day, and warm and spring-like the next. A passive-aggressive month, with the start of allergy season, but the promise of warmer days, flowers, and yes, the stupid time change. Can’t we get rid of that already? (S)March is also bringing unwelcome news from both sides of the border. Those who simply can’t believe Read more…
Well, let us hope this is just an anomaly and not a symbol for the year to come! The Puyallap, stalwart of the Kingston-Edmonds run, hit something in the water and bent its propeller blade, resulting in it being pulled from service and cutting Kingston down to one boat–just as WSF was restoring full service to the route. This being the annual winter maintenance period, when many of the ferries are out for desperately needed Read more…
“The phrase ‘may you live in interesting times’ is the lowest in a trilogy of Chinese curses that continue ‘may you come to the attention of those in authority’ and finish with ‘may the gods give you everything you ask for.’ I have no idea about its authenticity.”–Terry Pratchett. I’m with the late Sir Terry on the authenticity of said curses, but given the past few years, there is a certain ringing veracity to each Read more…
It’s all in the fine print… If you’ve been following the progress of the new ferries, which WSF desperately needs since shall we say two dowagers of the fleet could potentially be one bad Coast Guard inspection away from being yanked from service ala the Steel Electrics (cough cough Yakima, cough cough Kaleetan) and with my beloved Spokane getting her gold stripe for 50 years of service (just like the author here) this little tidbit Read more…
Well, this kinda sucks… Not too surprising, the Sidney run is not going to sail this Spring and likely not this summer, either. Lack of available crew is to blame, and quite understandably, WSF is directing resources to getting domestic service up to normal levels. Perhaps this fall service will be restored for a late celebration of the historic runs 100th anniversary, which was started with that unlikely looking “ferry” above. The idea of taking Read more…
Well, here we are in 2022, which is looking suspiciously like 2021. Just when we seemed to be getting a handle on the latest covid variant, along comes omicron. It’s that maybe we’re on the downside of that now, but…you never know when the next mutation will come along. On the plus side of things, after spending much time sidelined after the engine room fire, the Wenatchee returned to service on the Seattle-Bainbridge route. Now, Read more…
Well, here it is, the end of another very trying year. Just when it seemed like we might be turning the corner on the pandemic, hello omicron. In ferry-related news, we got this from the Washington State Transportation Commission on their selection of the new name: “It represents a geographic area in the state that doesn’t have a ferry named for it right now,” said Commissioner Debbie Young, of San Juan County. The state’s M/V Read more…