Washington State Ferries Employee News

Read the May 2025 edition of Ferry Tales, the Washington State Ferries employee newsletter.

Watch the all-staff meeting recording from Tuesday, May 20.

Have an idea for this employee newsletter? Email WSFEmployeeComms@wsdot.wa.gov.

Redesigned with you in mind: an update on new uniforms

We kicked off the Uniform Review project in February. The goal is to make sure our uniforms are comfortable, fit well and work for every role in our fleet operations. We want to offer options that meet the physical demands of your job and reflect the professionalism of Washington State Ferries.

Here’s what we’ve done so far:

We asked for your feedback through surveys and other processes.
About 20% responded. Your input helped us find areas that need improvement – especially with comfort and fit.
We’ve added Navy coveralls to the Galls Web Portal. More options will be added soon.

Next, we’ll meet with Galls, our uniform vendor, to look at more choices. Over the next few months, a few team members will be temporarily reassigned to test the new uniforms. They’ll take part in a hands-on “show and tell.”

We’ll also be holding fleet visits in our North, Central and South Pods from June through August. The exact schedule will be shared soon. The goal is to have new uniforms for you this fall.

Thank you for your valuable feedback as we work together to improve your workwear!

If you have any uniform questions, reach out to uniforms@wsdot.wa.gov. Email the Uniform Review team for project information.

Beth Stowell
Senior Director of Fleet Operations

What’s New at HQ?

It’s a busy time of year here at WSF! My team is working hard to gear up for a jam-packed summer season with added service following Gov. Bob Ferguson’s direction.

That means the following routes will see increases:

Seattle/Bremerton will return to its two-boat schedule starting Sunday, June 15.
Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth will resume a three-boat schedule daily with three Issaquah-class vessels beginning Monday, June 30.
A second vessel will operate at Port Townsend/Coupeville every Friday through Monday from July 4 to the end of its shoulder season on Oct. 13.

This will mean a higher risk of cancellations due to crewing as we pull folks from our bench to add to watches. We’ll also be without a lot of wiggle room on the layup board with 18 ferries in service.

However, I am confident in the dedication of our vessels team, dispatch, watch supervisors, crew resource managers and the entire operations team as we ensure excellent service all summer.

If you haven’t seen it already, I sat down with Deputy Assistant Secretary John Vezina and recorded a 4-minute Let's Talk About It: Summer Service explaining our service restoration plan while acknowledging the real challenges we continue to face with staffing and an aging fleet.

Cotty Fay
Chief Naval Architect

Employee Spotlight

As kids, many of us found joy in drawing and creating.

While few of us carried that into our careers, Chief Naval Architect Cotty Fay gets to do this every day. But his drawings are now a bit more technical.

Cotty has been with Washington State Ferries for nearly 16 years. He manages 12 employees who plan, design and develop architectural drawings of, and for, our vessels. These drawings are given to shipyards who are completing modifications, repairs and installing new or additional equipment.

Cotty says that the most rewarding part of his job is working with the top-notch engineering and vessel crews.

The most challenging part? The wide range of problems that could occur. On the design side, this covers little things from potable water issues all the way to navigation and the ship’s maneuverability.

When he’s not being a manager or drafting, he enjoys photography, specializing in landscapes and macro photography.

He began his career near Boston, spent time living and working in England in the early 2000s and moved to the Northwest over 30 years ago. He is still a chartered naval architect in the UK and in Europe.”

Ferry Tales survey still open

Thanks to everyone who filled out our survey! We still need input to make our employee newsletter great for everyone.

So far, we’ve heard you enjoy the employee recognition section – especially stories about people who’ve been with us for over 30 years. You also want more features on departments and ridership stats.

This feedback helps us focus on what matters to you. If you haven’t yet, please take this quick 3-minute survey to help us improve Ferry Tales.

Employee Recognition

Two people holding a coin, standing in front of a blue door with a bulletin board displaying photos — Southworth Terminal Supervisor **Jonah Shrader** recently awarded a Shared Values Coin to terminal employee **Jeremy Robinson**. Jeremy helped a panicked customer by calmly removing a tick from her neck and provided first aid. She was very thankful for his quick help.

Three people smiling and standing together in front of a light blue background with one holding up a coin — Senior Director of Quality, Health, Safety & Environment **Kevin Bartoy** and his department’s new Program Assistant **Sandeep Kaur** presented **Bahar Suseyi** with a Shared Values Coin recently. Bahar is the program assistant for our Marine Operations Department. They thanked her for doing a great job onboarding Sandeep. They also praised her for always showing our “Serve” value and being a role model for our strategic priority of “Service Excellence.”

Terminal ticketing and reservation project team

Members of our terminal ticketing and reservation project team recently received a Shared Values Coin. They were recognized for their deep engagement, technical expertise and strong team spirit. These qualities are driving the project forward and earning praise from terminal staff. The team consists of terminal employees Genevieve Black, Dennis Duff, Bristol Parsons, Ross Peacocke, Dani Rough, Sherrie Sanford and Kim Zuanich.

Issaquah generator repairs and engine room staffing

A Shared Values Coin was given to Staff Chief Engineer Justin Blair and Oiler Jason Stembridge-Porter recently. In mid-April, Justin led his engine room crew through a tough overnight generator repair on the Issaquah. Thanks to their hard work and perseverance, they avoided a vessel-related service delay. That same morning, after the repair, Jason offered to hold over for a few extra hours to keep the ferry running when there was a crewing issue.

Simplex contractor medical emergency aboard Chelan at Eagle Harbor

Electrician Philip Williams and Apprentice Alvin Muragori helped save a life during a medical emergency aboard Chelan. During the ferry’s recent maintenance layup period at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, a Simplex contractor collapsed and began having a seizure. Philip responded immediately. He called for help, jumped down to assist and made sure the person’s airway remained open until help arrived. Alvin also responded quickly. He told ship engineers, called 911 and alerted safety staff, staying calm and focused the whole time.

All-staff meeting Tuesday, May 20

Our next all-staff meeting is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20. On the day of the meeting, click this link to join.

There will be a short presentation on increased service this summer, what came out of the legislative session, our new dispatch system, the status of Wenatchee and shipbuilding progress.

Most of the meeting will be for your questions. You can ask them during the meeting or email WSF Employee Communications.

Can’t join live? A recording will be posted at the top of our Ferry Tales webpage.

That same week, we’re hosting two virtual community meetings with similar updates for riders. Advance registration is required to attend via Zoom at noon Wednesday, May 21, and 6 p.m. Thursday, May 22.

Employees drive change on Chetzemoka

One of our strategic priorities is Empowered People – and a recent project shows exactly what that means.

Every ferry has an emergency squad locker with safety gear like firefighting equipment and air packs. Air packs include a face mask connected to a tank of air that straps to your back.

When Senior Directors Beth Stowell (Fleet Operations) and Kevin Bartoy (Quality, Health, Safety & Environment) visited Chetzemoka recently, the crew spoke up. They said the locker was too crowded, making it hard and unsafe to quickly gear up.

Thanks to their feedback, a work order was created to fix the problem during the vessel’s upcoming layup period at our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility a few weeks later.

At Eagle Harbor, Capt. Steven Standaert and Chief Mate Nathan Skelley worked with the sheet metal shop to move the gear brackets to a better spot. But the wall they wanted to use wasn’t strong enough.

Instead of giving up, they came up with a plan to reinforce the wall and got it done.

Firefighting equipment with yellow jacket and breathing apparatus tanks — Crews were at risk for injuries because the brackets that hold up the air packs (circled in red) couldn’t support the walk-away method. That’s when users back into the frame and pull the air pack off the wall.

Now, crew on the Chetzemoka can get their gear on faster and more safely.

The Eagle Harbor team will make the same upgrade to the other two boats in this class – Kennewick and Salish – during their next layup periods.

This project shows what happens when empowered people – from onboard crews to shoreside staff – work together to drive change here at WSF.

New dispatching system coming in 2027

We kicked off a major effort to modernize our dispatching system in April. We selected industry leader Helm Operations for their configurable web-based platform designed for maritime work. It’s expected to launch in 2027.

The new system will replace our decades-old Automated Operations Scheduling System, or AOSS. It will make it easier to schedule crews, handle dispatching, bid for jobs and vacations, and track training and qualifications. It will also help us follow agency rules and U.S. Coast Guard requirements.

For employees, the new platform will be easier to use, more reliable and more secure. It will improve how we manage shifts and share information, while also helping with payroll checks and policy compliance.

Stay tuned for more updates as the project moves forward.

19 people posed in an office setting with a mountain mural in the background — Members from Helm Operations joined our dispatch replacement project team for a meeting and ride on our Seattle/Bainbridge route. This was an important first step in shaping a dispatching system tailored to our operations.

What’s Up at WSDOT?

Earlier this month, we celebrated Public Service Recognition Week (May 4-10) – an opportunity to recognize the valuable service we provide for our state and celebrate our accomplishments.

In honor of Public Service Recognition Week, several celebrations for state employees were held, including in-person events in Olympia, Spokane and the Tri-Cities (Kennewick).

The Seattle Mariners also will be hosting Washington State Employees Night on Saturday, May 31, with promotional price tickets still available online. More details about these events are available on the Office of Financial Management’s PSRW webpage.

Each year as part of Public Service Recognition Week, awards are presented to state employees who go above and beyond the requirements of their job. Nominated by their peers, these employees stand out for the contributions they make to their organizations and communities. This year, Colin Pippin-Timco, transportation planning specialist in the Public Transportation Division, received an Extra Mile Award. Lucy Temple, NEPA/SEPA program manager in the Environmental Services Office, won a Leadership Award and Morgan Balogh, assistant regional administrator in the Northwest Region won a Leadership Award.

It is the people of WSDOT, working day in and day out for the public, who make our agency successful. Thank you for your service.

2 shipyards bid on hybrid-electric ferry construction

We hit a major milestone in our effort to build a more reliable, cleaner ferry system and to build 16 new ferries by 2040.

On May 12, we opened bids to build up to five new hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries. We received proposals from two shipyards: Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island.

These bids are the result of a competitive process that began with prequalifying three shipyards earlier this year. We’re now reviewing the bid packages and supporting documentation to determine next steps before we award a contract.

Once a shipyard is selected, they’ll collaborate with us to finalize the design. Construction will follow, with incentives in place for early delivery.Thank you to everyone working hard behind the scenes to get us to this point. We’re excited to keep the momentum going and start building the future of our fleet.

Training Times

Start dates for upcoming new employee orientations

Deck

Monday, June 2
Monday, July 28
Monday, July 28

Engine

Monday, July 28

Eagle Harbor

Monday, May 19

People seated in a classroom setting with tables and motivational words on the wall — New deck employees participate in the classroom portion of fire training at Seattle Maritime Academy as part of orientation.

Upcoming training opportunities

Vessel Training Tours – Electronic Navigational Charts for Licensed Deck Officers on select watches

The Deck Training Department is launching a new training opportunity: Vessel Training Tours featuring microlearning on Electronic Navigational Charts. Captain Benjamin Berke and Chief Mate Jacob Kelly will be visiting select vessels to deliver focused ENC training using onboard Chart Radar systems. This hands-on training is designed to enhance operational familiarity and confidence with electronic navigational charts.

Monday, May 19 – Point Defiance, A & B Watch
Tuesday, May 20 – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, A & B Watch
Wednesday, May 21 – Edmonds/Kingston, E & F Watch
Thursday, May 22 – Mukilteo/Clinton, E & G Watch
Tuesday, May 27 – Seattle/Bremerton, F & D Watch
Wednesday, May 28 – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, L Watch

HRSS (De-escalation and Customer Service) for frontline staff (Terminal, Engine and Deck)

See QN19022 for more info on registering. All classes are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, May 22 at WSDOT Mt. Baker Area Headquarters, Burlington
Friday, May 23 at WSF 2901 Headquarters, Winslow Room
Wednesday, May 28 at WSDOT Mt. Baker Area Headquarters, Burlington
Thursday, May 29 at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility, Eagle Room
Friday, May 30 at WSF 2901 Headquarters, Winslow Room

Forklift/Aerial & Scissor Lift Certification for Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility employees

All classes are from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.

Tuesday, June 3

Fall Protection – Authorized Person Qualification

All classes are from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.

Wednesday, May 28
Monday, June 2

Welcome Aboard!

Recent deck hires:

Brandie Almazan
Samuel Booth
Harrison Davis
Jessica Evans
Anela Frey
Ole Hansen
Michael Hobi II
Robert Kyte
Erica Lichty
Arnie Lidnin
Ryan Mielke
David Nelson
Elizabeth Palmer
Kelly Robotham
Elizabeth Wong

Recent engine hires:

William Belanger
Keith Brown
Monet Davis
Jacob Depoe
Matt Dixon
Rodger Draney
Robert Irvin
Kristin Kelsey
Joshua Mack
Emma Vanschaick

Recent terminal hires:

Dean Borchert
Pauline Carlson
Michael Chavarria
Steven Clemo
Tobias Deibert
Jessica Eversoul
Jaclyn Gates
Nancy Novak
Mary Smith
Alice Stamler
Susan Teunis
Tyler Wisehart

Recent Eagle Harbor hire:

Nina Hadley

Recent HQ hire:

Kelsey Sanderson

Safety Matters

Our Quality, Health, Safety & Environment Department is expanding its Hearing Conservation Program. They’re adding hearing fit checks, which test how well ear plugs block noise in your ears.

New engine employees will get fitted and tested during their baseline hearing exam to determine how well their ear protection works.

Existing engine employees can ask for a fit check during their annual fit test. It only takes a few minutes.

Don’t take your hearing for granted! Take 10 minutes to learn how to use hearing protection properly. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, this is one step that can prevent further damage.