|
Post by Olympic Ferries on Apr 4, 2022 8:43:08 GMT -8
Another new addition to the Spring '22 schedule online - the 2230 from Anacortes to Lopez/Orcas/Friday Harbor is now denoted as "Vessel may take fuel, delaying departure 45-90 minutes", which seems to be a new thing. I know they fuel at this time in the summer, but with only a 20 minute turnaround after arriving at 2210, I don't know if this will become a regular thing or not.
Update: This notation on the schedule has been removed and the 2230 sailing to Lopez/Orcas/Friday Harbor is now sailing at 2330 every Friday during Spring 2022 instead.
|
|
|
Post by Kahloke on May 30, 2022 18:08:26 GMT -8
It seems like Memorial Day weekend has been largely trouble-free for Washington State Ferries. No major ferry break-downs or cancellations due to crewing issues, and many of the routes are back to full service; PT-CPV, SEA-BRE, and F-V-S being the notable exceptions. The only curiosity I have is Anacortes-San Juans operating on a normal Monday schedule instead of a holiday schedule. Why was today, one of THE busiest travel days during the year, not operating on a Sunday/ Holiday Monday schedule? They've done that in past years. Crewing issues?
|
|
|
Post by Olympic Ferries on May 30, 2022 18:39:54 GMT -8
It seems like Memorial Day weekend has been largely trouble-free for Washington State Ferries. No major ferry break-downs or cancellations due to crewing issues, and many of the routes are back to full service; PT-CPV, SEA-BRE, and F-V-S being the notable exceptions. The only curiosity I have is Anacortes-San Juans operating on a normal Monday schedule instead of a holiday schedule. Why was today, one of THE busiest travel days during the year, not operating on a Sunday/ Holiday Monday schedule? They've done that in past years. Crewing issues? The Sunday Holiday schedule was activated for the Tillikum, but not for the Yakima. That was likely a crew problem in advance, which has plagued Orcas with traffic issues, they have nearly 4 lanes of standby right now.
|
|
|
Post by northwesterner on May 31, 2022 23:06:46 GMT -8
It seems like Memorial Day weekend has been largely trouble-free for Washington State Ferries. No major ferry break-downs or cancellations due to crewing issues, and many of the routes are back to full service; PT-CPV, SEA-BRE, and F-V-S being the notable exceptions. The only curiosity I have is Anacortes-San Juans operating on a normal Monday schedule instead of a holiday schedule. Why was today, one of THE busiest travel days during the year, not operating on a Sunday/ Holiday Monday schedule? They've done that in past years. Crewing issues? And yet, just a day after the holiday, Sealth appeared on Edmonds-Kingston today. I found that pretty surprising.
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Jun 23, 2022 17:01:26 GMT -8
WSF has put out an update to the Service Restoration Plan ( link here). Three routes (Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, Seattle/Bremerton and Port Townsend/Coupeville) likely will not be restored to regular service until Spring 2023. In addition, the Anacortes/Sidney, B.C. route won't be restored until Summer 2023 at the earliest.
|
|
|
Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 6, 2023 0:01:05 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Kahloke on Feb 6, 2023 6:35:08 GMT -8
Here is the pertinent excerpt from that article: I, too, am curious which additional vessel they are considering converting to hybrid electric. The Jumbo Mark II's are three of those four. Which is the 4th? One of the "flight 1" Olympics? The newbuild schedule is seriously behind schedule. They're talking 2027 as the earliest year we can see a new ferry in service. Big question is, will Kaleetan, Yakima, and Tillikum last that long? The Issaquah's are also not aging too well, either. If WSF loses another ferry between now and when the next newbuild enters service, there is a real danger of some permanent service cuts.
|
|
|
Post by Cascadian Transport on Feb 6, 2023 7:47:45 GMT -8
Is Washington State Ferries now considering the hybridization projects for the four diesel Olympic Class vessels? I am asking because in the article it’s says four more vessels will be converted to hybrid ferries Probably not. I'd take that four-boat figure with a grain of salt- as we know the media is not always 100% accurate insofar as ferries are concerned. Having said that, if there is in fact a fourth boat in line for such a conversion, I'd venture to guess that it's most likely the Chetzemoka: the 2018 long-range plan indicated a desire to eventually hybridize the KdT class and Point Defiance seems like a route well-suited for such a vessel.
|
|
|
Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 6, 2023 18:07:34 GMT -8
Here is the pertinent excerpt from that article: I, too, am curious which additional vessel they are considering converting to hybrid electric. The Jumbo Mark II's are three of those four. Which is the 4th? One of the "flight 1" Olympics? The newbuild schedule is seriously behind schedule. They're talking 2027 as the earliest year we can see a new ferry in service. Big question is, will Kaleetan, Yakima, and Tillikum last that long? The Issaquah's are also not aging too well, either. If WSF loses another ferry between now and when the next newbuild enters service, there is a real danger of some permanent service cuts. I through the Jumbos Mark II where funded by Volkswagen scandal due cheating on emissions tests. Maybe this funding is for further four vessels and Olympic Class seems like reasonable choice due the next generation of Olympic Class are hybrid vessels.
|
|
|
Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 6, 2023 18:09:30 GMT -8
Is Washington State Ferries now considering the hybridization projects for the four diesel Olympic Class vessels? I am asking because in the article it’s says four more vessels will be converted to hybrid ferries Probably not. I'd take that four-boat figure with a grain of salt- as we know the media is not always 100% accurate insofar as ferries are concerned. Having said that, if there is in fact a fourth boat in line for such a conversion, I'd venture to guess that it's most likely the Chetzemoka: the 2018 long-range plan indicated a desire to eventually hybridize the KdT class and Point Defiance seems like a route well-suited for such a vessel. Wouldn’t Washington State Ferries want to convert all three Kwa-di Tabil vessels in similar time frame?
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 27, 2023 17:48:31 GMT -8
KIRO 7 news report (from 07/22/1980) about ferry engineers refusing to dump sewage overboard.
|
|
FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
|
Post by FNS on Mar 28, 2023 1:49:14 GMT -8
KIRO 7 news report (from 07/22/1980) about ferry engineers refusing to dump sewage overboard. It's neat to see the OLYMPIC operating in this video and to see rare video footage of her galley. This was captured during an "extended spring schedule" in 1980. We see the OLYMPIC, ILLAHEE, and VASHON assigned to the Mukilteo run during this time. Up in the San Juans, they had the KALEETAN and EVERGREEN STATE doing domestic trips. The KLICKITAT did a morning round trip to Sidney and did interisland trips in the afternoon. Down at the north Vashon routes, the KLAHOWYA, NISQUALLY, and QUINAULT were serving. The then new ISSAQUAH finally began service on the north Vashon routes late in the summer of 1980, sending the NISQUALLY up to Mukilteo and the VASHON to interisland duties in the San Juans. The real summer schedule finally began! The EVERGREEN STATE did the Sidney run and the KLICKITAT did domestic runs alongside the KALEETAN in the San Juans. This was when the PRINCESS MARGUERITE was taking the summer off. Getting your car to Victoria was a bit of a challenge because the QUEEN OF PRINCE RUPERT, her replacement, had no side hatches for cars to load at Pier 69 Seattle and inner harbour in Victoria. The Hood Canal Bridge was down as well, the west half was sunk by a major storm in February 1979. The TILLIKUM and KULSHAN were on the Lofall-South Point run. The ELWHA was on the Kingston run, SPOKANE and WALLA WALLA were on the Winslow run, HYAK and YAKIMA were on the Bremerton run, HIYU down at Tahlequah, and the RHODODENDRON up at Keystone. That was the summer vessel assignments in 1980, the year Mount Saint Helens blew her top off on May 18!
|
|
|
Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 15, 2023 19:24:33 GMT -8
What would be cheaper to for Washington State Ferries to upgrade one of current of Olympic Class to SOLAS or build one of Phrase II Olympic Class to SOLAS already?
|
|
|
Post by Olympic Ferries on Nov 29, 2023 18:22:02 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Kahloke on Nov 30, 2023 10:05:40 GMT -8
The Issaquah's are being worked to death with little downtime. Even though they've all received MLU's, it's logical to invest more money into those vessels as they will likely need to last longer than originally planned. EGFleet wrote a very good blog on the "state of the ferries", and why we should be worried. I'll post a link to that here - it's a good read. BC Ferries has it's troubles, but I think WSF is in worse shape overall. evergreenfleet.com/3-4-of-a-fleet-updates/
|
|
|
Post by Blue Bus Fan on Dec 5, 2023 16:07:03 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Olympic Ferries on Jan 4, 2024 18:35:11 GMT -8
Today, WSF released their "Service Contingency Plan", which essentially replaces the "Service Restoration Plan" that has been in place since 2020. This unfortunately comes with the unsurprising releases of a lack of official dates for restoration of full service to Seattle/Bremerton, the Triangle route and added shoulder and summer service at Port Townsend/Coupeville as a result of lack of crew & vessel deterioration. None of the information in here is really anything new or surprising, but there is some more specific outlining about how service will be mitigated in the event of a disruption, including how boat moves are planned and prioritizing already disrupted routes in the event of said disruption. Additional unscheduled sailings will also be made available in the event of available crew/ship. (I imagine this point specifically applies mostly to F/V/SW) One thing I note specifically mentioned in here as interesting is that they claim that the Seattle/Bainbridge route will, going forward, always be assigned a 202-car Jumbo Mark II ship, regardless of which ship it is, and "could be paired with a variety of other ships [to maintain service]". Given that only the Tacoma is available, she stays there, of course. Read at: wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/WSF-Service-Contingency-Plan-2024.pdf
|
|
|
Post by lavalamp on Jan 5, 2024 11:33:33 GMT -8
One thing I note specifically mentioned in here as interesting is that they claim that the Seattle/Bainbridge route will, going forward, always be assigned a 202-car Jumbo Mark II ship, regardless of which ship it is, and "could be paired with a variety of other ships [to maintain service]". Given that only the Tacoma is available, she stays there, of course. I view the whole thing as acknowledging that the recent reality for the system is going to be *the* reality for the system going forward. Pre-COVID, running an Issaquah on Seattle/Bainbridge would've been unthinkable. Yet, since September when Wenatchee went into the shipyard, we've seen a lot of Issaquah and Kitsap on that route. WSF has managed to keep two Jumbo Mark IIs there for about 1 of 4 months, and that one month was only after they used Salish at Seattle/Bainbridge for a few days and decided it really didn't work there. With Walla Walla looking like it has taken up permanent residence at Bremerton, they're clearly going to be juggling two Mark IIs plus Spokane between Edmonds/Kingston and Seattle/Bainbridge for the next couple years at least, and sometimes only two big boats, which means something has to give.
More broadly, I think WSF is also saying that vessel assignments are going to look weird throughout the system, due to limitations on what's available and what crew they have to do moves. We saw that in the fall, with Salish being used at Edmonds/Kingston for extended periods and at Mukilteo/Clinton for a week, and I think Issaquah ended up running at FVS, Mukilteo/Clinton, Seattle/Bremerton, Anacortes, Seattle/Bainbridge, and Edmonds/Kingston, which is crazy for a 3-month period.
|
|
|
Post by Kahloke on Jan 6, 2024 12:20:03 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by northwesterner on Jan 7, 2024 23:02:04 GMT -8
I view the whole thing as acknowledging that the recent reality for the system is going to be *the* reality for the system going forward. Pre-COVID, running an Issaquah on Seattle/Bainbridge would've been unthinkable. Yet, since September when Wenatchee went into the shipyard, we've seen a lot of Issaquah and Kitsap on that route. WSF has managed to keep two Jumbo Mark IIs there for about 1 of 4 months, and that one month was only after they used Salish at Seattle/Bainbridge for a few days and decided it really didn't work there. With Walla Walla looking like it has taken up permanent residence at Bremerton, they're clearly going to be juggling two Mark IIs plus Spokane between Edmonds/Kingston and Seattle/Bainbridge for the next couple years at least, and sometimes only two big boats, which means something has to give.
More broadly, I think WSF is also saying that vessel assignments are going to look weird throughout the system, due to limitations on what's available and what crew they have to do moves. We saw that in the fall, with Salish being used at Edmonds/Kingston for extended periods and at Mukilteo/Clinton for a week, and I think Issaquah ended up running at FVS, Mukilteo/Clinton, Seattle/Bremerton, Anacortes, Seattle/Bainbridge, and Edmonds/Kingston, which is crazy for a 3-month period.
I'm surprised Tokitae has mostly stayed at Mukilteo/Clinton. She would be much better suited than an Issaquah at Edmonds/Kingston or Winslow, not just because of her slightly larger auto capacity but also because of her much larger passenger cabin. I rode Kitsap from Winslow to Seattle a week ago on Sunday, a couple of hours before a Seahawks game. The passenger cabin just can't handle that many walk-ons and covered exterior seating was full on a cold winter day because there was nowhere else to go. Flashbacks to when Chelan was often assigned to do the Anacortes-Friday Harbor non-stop trips in the summer many years ago and some very crowded trips leaving Friday Harbor at 5PM on a Sunday with nowhere to go.
|
|
|
Post by Departure Bay on Jan 10, 2024 7:47:04 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Mike C on Jan 10, 2024 14:17:41 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Olympic Ferries on Jan 12, 2024 13:28:12 GMT -8
Kind of a random comment, but definitely something I miss hearing is the WSF announcement onboard the Elwha for departures to Sidney, BC. Here's the full text for anyone interested in some nostalgia today.
Welcome aboard Washington State Ferries’ Elwha. The following message is an important safety announcement. For security reasons, we ask that passengers not leave any backpacks, luggage, packages, or other personal belongings unattended during this crossing. Upon arrival at our final destination, all passengers must disembark the vessel. In the event of a shipboard emergency, signals will be sounded on the ship’s general alarm, followed by the same signals on the ship’s whistle. The signal for a fire is the continuous ringing of the ship’s general alarm for at least ten seconds, followed by one, two, three, or four short rings to indicate on which deck the fire is located. The signal for abandon ship is seven short rings, followed by one long ring. If you hear this signal, take a life jacket from the nearest seat and proceed to the nearest passenger assembly station. If you are on the car deck, please go to the main passenger cabin and do not return to the car deck unless instructed by the crew. Do not use the elevator during the ship’s emergency. Life jackets can be found underneath bench seats in the passenger cabin. Children’s life jackets can be found underneath bench seats in the far ends of the passenger cabin. They can also be found in lockers on the sun deck and in drop bins on the car deck located at both ends of the vessel. Once at the passenger assembly station, please follow all given instructions by the crew. The signal for man overboard, or rescue, is one long signal followed by one short signal, repeated three times, followed by one or two short signals to indicate which rescue boat will be launched. To learn more about donning a life jacket or other shipboard emergency responses, ask any crew member or review the information at the passenger assembly stations. Passengers who may have special needs during an emergency should identify themselves to any crew member upon boarding. In accordance with state and federal laws, smoking and vaping are prohibited onboard any Washington State Ferry. Lastly, all alcoholic beverages must be consumed in the galley. Thank you for your attention and we hope you enjoy your trip.
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 18, 2024 13:20:42 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Olympic Ferries on Feb 3, 2024 20:00:01 GMT -8
Interesting to see the Spokane divert en route to Edmonds, to Coleman Dock tonight to allow for traffic to offload while the Edmonds Terminal was closed. Feel like that's happened a couple times lately...
|
|