Washington State Ferries officials boarded the inter-island ferry Thursday to discuss the beleaguered system’s long-range plan, but the proposed fall schedule dominated the shipboard meeting attended by more than 50 local residents.
Delayed mail, evening overloads and empty (low revenue) ferries shuttling crews between Anacortes and Friday Harbor in the wee hours could be the norm if a United States Coast Guard requirement that prohibits crews from working more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period is enforced this September. The requirement, which has been waived in the past, was reinstated over concerns about fatigue. However, the double commuting times by not having touring watches may pose a greater risk, as some employees come to the San Juans from as far away as Bellevue.
David Moseley, assistant secretary, Ferries Division, said that it’s very difficult to staff the boats in traditional seven-, eight- or nine-hour shifts.
“For a number of years we’ve done touring watches, with eight hours on, eight off,” he said. “That helps us keep the service levels that we have now.”
The most dramatic change to the schedule is that there would be only one sailing from Anacortes to both Friday Harbor/Lopez and Orcas/Shaw, instead of the current 5 and 6 p.m. sailings. The last boat would be an all-stops boat, and some of the morning sailings would be moved back one hour.
Because it would no longer be possible to moor the mainland ferry in Friday Harbor overnight, it would be necessary to transport the crew to Anacortes at the end of duty at night, and to the island the next morning. And while the early return boat from Anacortes would carry commercial vehicles, County Councilwoman Lovell Pratt expressed concern about the impact on fare box recovery (revenues) if ferries run without passengers.
“The proposed fall schedule is constrained by the union and Coast Guard issues, and not focused on customer service and demand,” Pratt said.
If appeals to the Coast Guard by the San Juan County Council are rejected, the new schedule will affect how residents conduct their lives, said San Juan Ferry Advisory Committee member Rob Degavre.
“It will be difficult for residents to try to get to Anacortes before noon and return at 5 p.m.,” he said. “We’re trying to make a pig fly in trying to adjust these schedules.”
While many islanders expressed concern over the inter-island schedule, Ed Sutton, chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee, assured them that necessary minor adjustments in the schedule will not significantly impact the inter-island services they’ve come to depend upon.
Moseley said they are hopeful that the system and its employees will reach an agreement that will allow workers more flexibility.
“San Juan is a unique situation, and we will still have discussions with the Coast Guard about that,” he said. “Time is of the essence here. We have to adhere to the new ruling by Sept. 30 of this year, and will have to print our fall schedules by the end of July/early August.”
Among other topics discussed were the long-range plan for Washington State Ferries (WSF), vehicle reservations and the tariff process.
According to Moseley, the most important thing that came out of the 2009 legislative session was that “…we are able to maintain our current level of service.”
The Legislature made a commitment to replace vessels when they are due to be retired. The plan calls for building five new vessels over the next six years, then a second five after a 10-year gap. Currently, funding is available to build two new 64-car vessels, and one is under construction now.
In terms of vehicle reservations, WSF was directed by state lawmakers to conduct a study on how vehicle reservations would work on a specific route – in this case, the Edmonds-Kingston run. A final decision will come after a pre-design report comes due in Nov. 2009, with a pilot route to be implemented by 2011. Under the plan, and as with the current system in use on the Keystone-Port Townsend run, 70 percent of a boat’s capacity would be reserved, with the balance dedicated to ride-ups and stand-by passengers.
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