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[Bruce]

Figured we should have a separate thread for the ferry system.

This week: tons of cancellations and multi-hour waits due to a crew shortage brought on by vaccine requirements. Turns out most of them want to live with COVID forever.

The Seattle Times reports that 140 sailings were cancelled on Friday and 228 people out of 600 were unable to work.

[jakeroot]

I was listening to news radio this afternoon, and the traffic announcer was losing their mind over the delays. It took me a few cycles of listening to the reports to realize the gravity of the situation. I think they eventually went on to claim it as WSF's worst day ever.

I'm a bit surprised that some sort of plan wasn't in place to bring on additional workers to supplant those who want to remain unvaccinated.

Edit: I'm reading that the workers called out sick. Bit harder to prepare for that, I guess.

[Max Rockatansky]

I’m really just replying here so this thread shows up in my replied threads.  I really dig the Bremerton-Seattle Ferry whenever I have to work in Kitsap.

[TEG24601]

Yea, Mukilteo-Clinton is down to one boat... the only profitable route in the entire system.

[Alps]

Please do not turn this into a COVID thread. Please keep this on topic to work shortages only (or other ferry info as the thread evolves). Thank you.

[Bruce]

In non-cancellation news, there's also a contest to name the next Olympic-class ferry (which will be a diesel-electric hybrid that carries 144 cars).

The deadline was yesterday, so we'll be seeing the first proposals under review in a few weeks: https://wstc.wa.gov/programs/ferry-highway-naming/2021-ferry-naming-process-schedule/

Generally, ferries are named for local Coast Salish tribes or geographic locations, continuing a tradition set by the Black Ball Line before it was acquired by the state to become the modern ferry system in 1951. One of the more serious proposals I've seen is "Snoqualmie", after the tribe of the same name.

A few of the comical entries found by The Seattle Times:

Geoduck.

Tinkerbell.

Pickleball.

Big Foot.

Big Face.

The Sound and Fury.

King Felix.

Dixy Lee Ray.

Victor.

Namu.

George Washington Bush.

The Hendrix.

Boaty McBoatface or Ferry McFerryface or Floaty McBoaty.

Ivar Haglund. [eccentric owner of the Ivar's seafood chain]

Taxme McTaxme Face.

Jay Loves Suzy.

Gertrude, “to honor Seattle’s earliest cross dresser.” [a reference to the JP Patches Show]

Louie, Louie. [once proposed as the state song]

[jakeroot]

^^^^
Not all of those strike me as comical. I kind of like "Gertrude," "Dixy Lee Ray," "King Felix," and "Ivar Haglund."

[Bruce]

Looks like there's going to be schedule reductions instead of just cancelling random runs: https://wsdot.wa.gov/news/2021/10/13/state-ferry-temporary-schedule-changes-starting-saturday-oct-16

Washington State Ferries just announced "temporary schedule changes" (service cuts) that begin Saturday.

"Given what has happened to the response to calls to fill positions on recent weekends, WSF feels there is too much uncertainty to continue the schedule at this moment." pic.twitter.com/c3HmbstlC1

— Nathan Pilling (@KSNatePilling) October 14, 2021

[stevashe]

Looks like there's going to be schedule reductions instead of just cancelling random runs: https://wsdot.wa.gov/news/2021/10/13/state-ferry-temporary-schedule-changes-starting-saturday-oct-16

Washington State Ferries just announced "temporary schedule changes" (service cuts) that begin Saturday.

"Given what has happened to the response to calls to fill positions on recent weekends, WSF feels there is too much uncertainty to continue the schedule at this moment." pic.twitter.com/c3HmbstlC1

— Nathan Pilling (@KSNatePilling) October 14, 2021

The new schedule is pretty rough, I was very glad that I managed to just make the 10:20 am ferry from Edmonds on Monday by about 6 cars, else I would have had to wait until 11:55! 

[kkt]

Dixy Lee Ray

God no.  Worst governor in recent memory.