Washington State Ferries Employee News

Watch the all-staff meeting recording from Wednesday, Oct. 1.

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

Connecting coasts to build tomorrow’s fleet

Under the warm Florida sun, our System Electrification Program leadership team met face-to-face in early September with the people who will build our next generation ferries. The visit to Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s Panama City facilities wasn’t just about touring shipyards, it was about building relationships.

From Puget Sound to Panama City

This trip marked the start of our partnership with Eastern Shipbuilding, which was recently awarded the contract to build our new hybrid-electric ferries. The goal of this early meeting was to lay the groundwork for a strong working relationship before a more formal kickoff in November.

“These new vessels will help make our fleet more reliable,” said System Electrification Deputy Program Administrator Anders Hammersborg. “When we have a casualty and lose a ferry, we’ll have better options to maintain the level of service people rely on.”

Over two days, the team toured three of Eastern’s facilities. Initial introductions were held at their Panama City federal facility, the smallest of the three. On day two, they toured the Port St. Joe finishing facility, where they were able to tour a ship receiving battery installation from Corvus Energy, the same vendor supplying batteries for our hybrid-electric ferries. 

The final stop was their Allanton commercial facility, the expansive site where they will build our vessels. With abundant laydown space and a straight shot to the water, the facility’s scale impressed the team. 

A promising partnership, bridging the distance

Eastern brings proven experience to the partnership. The ferries they’ve built have earned industry-wide recognition, including the 4,500-passenger ferry built for Staten Island Ferries, Michael H. Ollis, Workboat magazine’s Boat of the year in 2021. As well as Long Island, a 124-automobile ferry built for Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co. named one of Workboat’s 10 Significant Boats of 2025. Our System Electrification Program leaders left Florida excited by the shipbuilder’s track record and commitment to building high quality vessels. 

However, Anders did admit that a cross-country partnership comes with logistical hurdles. “It will be a challenge, but the team is ready,” he said. “The first year will focus on design, which is common in the industry to do remotely. We’ll also have regular in-person design reviews, and once construction begins, we’ll have staff permanently stationed in Florida.”

Looking Ahead

The visit was the first step in a years-long partnership, but it set a strong foundation. With a committed shipbuilder, a clear path forward and teams on both coasts united in purpose, our hybrid-electric ferries are one step closer to reality.

Employee Recognition

Employee Spotlight

Seven years ago, during new employee orientation, Bradley Norman was impressed by our commitment to customer service and equity. He realized he had found a career path, not just a job.

When he heard Allen Scott, the terminal training lead at the time, talk about our values, Bradley knew he wanted that role if the chance came up. When the opportunity did arise, he went for it.

Now, almost ten months into his role as terminal workforce development lead, Bradley’s energy and excitement for WSF continues to grow. As a former on-call terminal supervisor, he knows the challenges of the jobs he supports. That experience helps him design programs to support his coworkers.

Bradley has led the creation of a new Terminal Career Development Program. The goal is to help terminal employees grow into future leaders. He developed the curriculum, created classroom materials and partnered with other workforce development leads to shape the program into an eight-day course. It’s split into four days before the busy summer season and four days after.

The course blends hard and soft skills to give employees a well-rounded foundation. Participants learn about time management, leadership styles and how to have tough conversations with both employees and customers. They also work on career development skills like writing résumés and preparing for interviews. These tools can help them move into supervisor roles, leadership positions or other opportunities within WSF.

Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Many say the program changed their view of supervisors. They see now that leadership is not just about “sitting in an office.” It’s about building skills, supporting your team and leading by example.

Bradley encourages frontline staff who want to advance to first consider becoming an instructor. “It’s a great way to take on a leadership role,” he said.

The program officially launched in April. With a supervisor job posting closing recently, the results may soon become clear as participants take the next step in their careers. Thanks to Bradley’s vision and dedication, terminal employees now have a structured pathway to grow, develop and advance.

“Try joining a safety committee meeting or attend a Route Focus Group. I want more employees to take those opportunities to better themselves and their teams,” he said.

Bradley also helps with other training efforts. These include courses on de-escalation, terminal safety and basic first aid, as well as “Ask Me Anything” sessions with the executive team.

In his free time, Bradley loves to explore. Sometimes that means heading into the city to discover hidden gems like new restaurants. Other times, it means going into the mountains for the scenery – and maybe a great coffee. He also enjoys cooking and is known for his delicious brisket, which he occasionally shares with his teammates.

What’s New at HQ?

I’m excited to join Washington State Ferries as the new director of our Finance and Administration Department. 

In this role, my goal is to strengthen our operations, support our staff and help our organization run smoothly and effectively. I look forward to building processes that last, tackle challenges as a team and make a real difference for our employees and the communities we serve.

I believe in WSF’s shared values of Serve, Respect, Grow, Trust and Navigate. I want to serve and respect the work you do. I want to support your growth and build relationships based on trust. And I am ready to navigate any challenges that come our way as a team.

A little about me: I come from WSDOT Headquarters, where I’ve been assistant budget director since 2019. I led a team that prepared the agency’s budget request for the governor. I’ve also worked with several WSDOT programs including WSF, as well as transportation staff at the Office of Financial Management and the Legislature. 

I’m eager to meet many of you and learn from your experiences as we work together to keep WSF moving forward.

New EV transport rules

Starting Nov. 1, a new policy takes effect for transporting damaged or inoperable electric, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles on our ferries. 

The rules are designed to keep everyone safe and prevent fires or other electrical hazards.

Damaged or towed electric vehicles can only be transported if they are in a safe and stable condition. They cannot show signs of fire, leaks or electrical problems.

Customers must fill out a WSF Transport Form for Hybrid, Electric, and Alternative Energy Vehicles (PDF 764KB) before boarding.

What terminal employees need to know

At the terminal, ticket sellers should use the Carriage Requirements for Alternative Energy Vehicles checklist in their booths to make sure each vehicle meets the rules.

If the vehicle is approved, the customer gives their completed form to the seller. The seller will then hand them a blue “Safe for Transit” card to place on their dashboard and pass the form to the vessel crew.

What deck crews need to know

On the vessel, deck crews should load damaged or towed alternative energy vehicles last. This makes it easier to respond if there’s an emergency. When finished, crews can send completed forms to the WSF Safety Office at any time.

Captains have full authority to deny boarding if they believe a vehicle is unsafe or missing paperwork. WSF will always support Captains who make safety-based decisions.

These new rules will help keep everyone safe as more electric and hybrid vehicles travel on our ferries.

Engineers bring historic helm back to life

Tokitae engine room crews turned an old helm into a new attraction for riders.

Oiler Sam Lombard first spotted the historic piece from Elwha. Over the past year, he and Staff Chief Engineer Brady Ferguson, Assistant Engineer Doug Granstrom, and Oilers Ben French, Thomas Ingalls and Jason Zwink volunteered their time to restore it.

They took the whole thing apart, then cleaned, sanded and painted. Then they rebuilt it piece by piece. Some of them even donated parts and money to complete the project.

Now installed at the No. 1 end of Tokitae, the helm is already a hit with passengers, especially kids.

It’s an inspiring example of how our employees go above and beyond. They use creativity, teamwork and passion to deliver service excellence and provide a little ferry magic to our riders.

Full speed ahead: 5G arrives on our ferries thanks to IT employees

IT Infrastructure Support Technicians Michael Burgos and Alex Ellington recently finished our Vessel 5G Modernization project. This upgraded all our ferries from legacy 4G cellular to T-Mobile’s modern 5G Ultra Capacity.

It was a huge job. It took big-picture thinking, quick action, teamwork across departments and a strong focus on service. 

Thanks to Michael and Alex, our vessel networks are now more reliable and have improved capacity. They can also better support the informational, operational and security systems our crews depend on every day.

With stronger and steadier connections, our vessel employees can do their jobs more effectively. Onboard technology now runs more smoothly. This allows us to maintain safe, consistent service for our customers.

Join the fight against hunger

Our WSF Regional Food Bank Fundraiser started Oct. 1 and runs through Feb. 28, 2026. This is your chance to help fight hunger and support families in need.

When you donate, you can choose from a list of regional food banks. You also get to pick how you give – by credit card or through payroll donation.

This fundraiser is part of the Washington State Combined Fund Drive, which connects active and retired public employees with charities across the state.

By giving back, we can help our neighbors, strengthen our communities and take action to end hunger.

Show us your holiday spirit

‘Tis the season for gathering with friends, family and coworkers. 

Have a holiday party or potluck coming up? We’d love to share photos with the public.

Email WSF Employee Comms with your photos of employee gatherings or text them to 206-970-9428.

Construction Corner

In-water terminal work at Bremerton to bring adjustment to route’s winter season schedule

Big changes are coming to our Seattle/Bremerton route for our winter sailing season (Dec. 28, 2025, to March 21, 2026).

The #1 boat will tie up overnight in Seattle instead of Bremerton. Because of this, the deck crew for that vessel will also start and end their shifts in Seattle for the whole season. The switch is needed so we can replace two in-water terminal structures at slip 2 in Bremerton.

Here are other changes for our #1 boat:

• No 4:50 a.m. Bremerton departure.
• 3 p.m. out of Bremerton will depart at 2:40 p.m.
• Added 10:15 p.m. Bremerton to Seattle sailing.
• On Sundays, the 8:35 a.m. Seattle and 9:50 a.m. Bremerton departures will not run. Normally, refueling is done overnight in Bremerton during the week. Now that the boat is based in Seattle, fueling is adjusted to fit the new schedule.

With no 4:50 a.m. out of Bremerton, early morning commuters can use the Kitsap Fast Ferry’s 4:40 a.m. sailing. 

The contractor is compressing the project into one sailing season to make crewing and fueling easier and the changes less confusing for customers.

For questions about construction, email WSF Employee Comms.

What’s Up at WSDOT?

The season is changing – leaves are falling, the smell of pumpkin spice is in the air and the annual Employee Engagement Survey launched on Oct. 1. 

We are asking every WSDOT employee to take the survey. We want to hear from as many of you as possible so we can strengthen and shape our agency for the future. 

This is your chance to tell us what’s working and, in particular, where we can make improvements. 

Confidentiality

The survey is anonymous. It is administered by the state’s Office of Financial Management and our agency only sees combined data for groups of 10 or more respondents, to eliminate the chance any one respondent could be identified in a small team. 

Ways to take the survey

This year’s Employee Engagement Survey campaign theme is – Seasons change and so can we. Take the Employee Engagement Survey! 

Look for our posters at our facilities, terminals and on vessels. Posters have a QR code to assist with access to the survey via agency and personal mobile phones and tablets -- or links are available in weekly all-staff emails and on the intranet.

The survey is available until Oct. 31 but take it now… It’s as easy as pumpkin pie (PDF 174KB)!

Training Times

Our new WSF Training SharePoint is now available to all employees.

This site is your one-stop shop for information about in-person and department-specific training. It’s separate from the annual computer-based training and focuses on helping employees grow their skills through hands-on learning.

You’ll find general and department-specific training details, points of contact, a video library, course overviews and a calendar of upcoming classes and events.

The site is still being built, but it already includes lots of useful information to support your learning and career development.

You can visit the site using this direct link, the desktop icon (right) on a WSF workstation or SharePoint mobile app.

Everyone is encouraged to explore the site and share feedback. If you have ideas or requests for more resources or tools, email Bradley Norman, terminal workforce development lead.

Vessel Emergency Response Training

Classes are full for our October and November Vessel Emergency Response Training for deck and engine employees. Thank you to all who have registered. 

More VERT classes will be announced for February through May. Workforce development leads will be emailing everyone that is due for training with more details.

Deck

Deck New Employee Orientation started on Oct. 6. This class will be active in the fleet starting Saturday, Oct. 25. 

Engine

Director of Vessel Engineering and Maintenance Forrest Nichols and Engine Workforce Development Lead Heather Nicole Saladino invited engine crew members to share their training goals. Their input will help shape upcoming courses and training opportunities.

So far, about 20% have responded, and the survey will stay open for more feedback. The responses are already helping identify employees for several key courses, including:

• Basic Electrical (Oct. 20-31 class full, more opportunities ahead)
• Basic Engine (Nov. 17-21)
• Engine Officer Administration (Dec. 1-12)
• Practical Electrical Troubleshooting at Calhoon MEBA Engineering School (spring 2026)

Crew members are encouraged to complete the Training Needs Assessment and Electrical Assessment to help determine their best course placement.

If you’re interested in the Engine Officer Training or other upcoming sessions, email Heather Nicole Saladino. You can also visit the Engine Training SharePoint page for registration links and updates.

Terminal

Our Terminal Career Development Program wraps up Oct. 15. This was the first year we offered this eight-day class.

Eagle Harbor

• Fall Protection Authorized Person training – Nov. 6
• Mobile Elevated Platform Training (Aerial / Scissor Lift) – Nov. 12
• Powered Industrial Trucks Training (Forklift) – Nov. 18

Start dates for upcoming new employee orientations

Deck

• Monday, Nov. 3

Engine

• Monday, Nov. 3

Eagle Harbor

• Monday, Nov. 3

Dispatch Replacement Project

Scan here anytime to visit the Dispatch Replacement Project SharePoint site (must view on a WSDOT device). It's updated at least once a month with the latest project news. This QR code will also be included in every issue of Ferry Tales through summer 2027, when the project is expected to wrap up.

Safety Matters

Patron incident reporting often generates questions. This month’s topic is about how we decide if an injury should be reported to the National Transit Database.

As a non-rail transit system, we help the Federal Transit Administration collect information for the NTD. The Patron Ferries Incident Report, Ferries Medical Incident Report and daily OPS logs provide key safety data to help our Quality, Health, Safety & Environment Department decide if a case meets NTD reporting thresholds.

Key threshold questions: 

1. Did injury occur on WSF property?
2. Did the injury require transport by aid car or self-transport to medical facilities? 

If yes to both, QHSE flags this as NTD and enters the incident into the national database. 

Email QHSE’s Melodee Mahr for more information. 

Nautical Numbers

Here are some numbers that recap what we did in September:

1,786,105 total riders

• 836,034 drivers (with vehicle)
• 950,071 passengers and walk-ons

13,217 trips completed

73,104 service miles

98.9% of scheduled sailings completed (based on scheduled trips)

Welcome Aboard!

September engine hires:

• Ryan Duckworth

September HQ hires:

• Taylor Dobson
• Jessica Marcoe

We’re Hiring!

Current job openings at WSF:

• Vessel Engineering Manager
• Transportation Engineer 2
• Bridge Engineer 6 (In-Training)
• Vessel Project Engineer

From Our Social Media Feeds

Most popular posts on our X, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram accounts in the month of September:

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