Sleeping captain blamed for Wednesday ferry delays

No mention of a governor asleep at the wheel for 8 years, I see.

Hi.  I work for WSF.  On Call.  Currently, since it is Winter, and runs are reduced - I am not getting called.  And since my work last year - I only had about 2.5 days of work per week - I didn't have enough hours during the spring and summer to qualify for unemployment.  So, I am presently not working, no income; and waiting for the spring.  I earn a whole $15 hour.  I  realize that Captains, or Masters of the boats earn more - but the wages are not really that huge.

 

Our job - from the Master on down - is to protect the passengers.  Remember the Cruise Ship last year.  I am on the boat - to provide emergency guidance, and put out fires and such.  To maximize life in case of some sort of disaster.  From whatever source.

 

I've slept on plenty of boats.  Because that is the ONLY way I can be there in the morning for the start of the shift which I was called a few hours or maybe a little more - to be on.  I've been called at 2:50am; and asked to please get somewhere before 3:50 for watch (shift) start.

 

People want reduced fare costs.  The Fare costs to much they say.  But, they don't want people STAFFING the boats!  To keep costs down - the Ferry's currently run at MINIMUM staffing.  That means that if someone doesn't show up - it is ILLEGAL for the boat to leave.  Against Coast Guard Safety regulations.

 

You might think the boats are all 'safe' - but even WSF have had some slight instances.  However, we save plenty of lives each year.  We are the number 1 agency the CG looks to - when a boater or scuba diver - etc. is in trouble.

 

What do you think the costs would be - to have adequate manning - so that if one or two people were sick; or were delayed in traffic - that the vessel could still sail??  You would be screaming about the fare costs.  But, you would actually be safer.  It would be hard enough to keep control of frightened crowds on the boat if we have a major fire or some other threat - while we try to get everyone off the vessel in an orderly manner and fashion.  Now, consider that your actually asking about 9 total people to control 1,200 to 2000 on a typical run...  But - people are very concerned about costs.  When I am helping to load the vessel - I always make sure to really try and keep various car tires OFF the escape hatches for the engine crew.  But people driving onto the boat - don't pay much mind.  Since they believe that a problem will never exist.  That frankly - is because of our training and expertise.  I have to be able to put on a complete SCBU (breathing equipment) in just about 1 minute or less.

 

Go through pitch BLACK smoke filled training in the heat of HUGE HOT training fires - to learn how to find and rescue passengers in very bad circumstances.  And for this, and picking up garage, trash, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. I get $15hr.  And spend numerous unpaid hours on the boat waiting for a shift...  Lots of runs start on the 'West' side.  Seattle - in Ferry lingo - is on the EAST side.  I somewhat knew this when I applied for the in 2011; but not all.  And in today's economic environment - I'm certainly not feeling unfortunate.  I probably will be 'ON CALL ' for the entire time I work for the Ferry system.  Because I am much older than most new hires; and this is a seniority based system.  But, we really are not just dumb hacks who are not working.

 

And EVERYONE deserves some time off.  So, they even have RELIEF masters or captains.  For when another Captain has vacation - or gets Sick.  And having the flu, etc. is not something you can ‘schedule.’  Who have to KNOW the entire waterways, currents, tides, etc. of the entire PUGET Sound and Anacortes, San Juan; plus even up into Canada.

 

So, a (probably) relief captain was told he needed to be on a certain boat.  And sometimes Dispatch gets that wrong - because Boats have problems or get taken out of service.  I've been told to go to the wrong boat.  Fortunately for me - someone when I arrived late at night asked me what Watch I was doing; and told me the CORRECT boat.  Otherwise - I would have been on the wrong boat...

 

So, this Relief captain - drives out late at night; and gets on the vessel he thinks he should be on; and goes to sleep (in NOT plush quarters.  Although some are better than other.  But, I gave up on them; and just curl up on a passenger bench seat) - and gets some shut eye.  And you guys are all making for the most part - dumb, uneducated remarks.

 

I DID sign up for this job.  I DIDN'T realize when I applied - that I might have to drive around for 50 miles; or catch some 10 o'clock night run - so that I could be on a specific boat - at 5am for a shift. (Watch).  And ALL of that time - is totally UNPAID.

 

WSF substantially reduced the number of crew level last year - late in the spring.  Now, recently the CG has stated you have to put people back - for SAFETY.  Course, that will become the minimum vessel number - and a vessel will not be able to sail with that new (previous former before last spring) crew manning level.  But, WSF is stating they don't have the budget.

 

And you guys are stating it should all be 'privatized.'  Really??  Would you privatize the Fire Department?  Or the police force?  Or the Military?  The reason we are on the boat - is for your safety.  And frankly - we need many more crew members.  But the public and fare system won't allow that.  But, although I constantly pick up trash which people throw on the floor, or clean up vomit when someone gets sick - my primary focus and responsibility - is keeping you alive; if any type of disaster - for whatever reason should occur.  Puget Sound is quite DEEP, and very COLD.  We have training /crew drills (abandon ship; rescue, fire, etc.) EVERY week.

 

I realize that some of the crew might spend more time than they should - in the 'break' room.  But really, our wages are not in the stratosphere.  I mean - I worked for Home Depot and got $11hr.  Then moved from there to the Ferry and got a whole $4 an hour increase.  And less hours; and much more driving.  Out of a training class of 15; they washed out 3; and then the rest of the summer - they discharged (or they left for other reasons) another 4 people.  I mean - this is HARD work.  Standing in the cold FOG, on the edge of a boat - LISTENING for any other vessel traffic when you can't see almost your hand in front of your face - is not easy.  I got to do that - even in this last summer.  Because a few of the mornings were very, very foggy, and hard to see.  And although you might think we have electronic equipment - why yes we do.  So, if that should somehow not be correct, and we run into someone - what would you say...  So we do everything, every day - to try and make sure that disaster or problems don't occur.  But totally because of Fare considerations; and the fact that people need to be paid to do work - yes, the boats are at basically a minimum staffing.  And really - for increased Safety - Staffing should be substantially increased.

 

So, please give this Captain (Master) a break.  Because we all are human; and we all do sometimes make mistakes.  And sometimes even - someone else has told us to go to the wrong boat.  Why?  Because in life - mistakes and errors do sometimes happen.

 

Regards,

David S.

The entire ferry system is like an onion...its got a lot of layers. Its not just one problem but a cluster of them... As for only being "20 minutes behind"...that equaled to 1.5 hourse being late to work... And BTW, I guess its perfectly professional and acceptable for ferry employess to flip ya the bird when you can't figure out where they want you to load your car on the boat!!! LOL

Privatize the ferries. 

If it sounds like a joke .......... it probably is. This guys job is probably interfering with his social life.

I find it ironic that the captain spent the night onboard so that he wouldn't be late for work....

 

And how could that captain mistake one boat for another?  Seems to me that the boats have names and those names would be somewhat visible even at night.  I don't think this captain would forget where his boat would be docked in relation to the other boat. 

 

IMHO, there is much more going on here with workers calling in sick or captains not realizing what boat they are on.  Even one captain deciding to turn around once he found out that a "stowaway" was on board.

 

The USCG recently told the DOT that there must be a certain minimum number of crewman aboard in order to sail.  And yet there are still "sick" crewmen.  I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't the DOT but the union doing this.  The fact that the union is "working" with DOT to solve the problem still doesn't explain crewmen calling in sick.

Wow. One scandal after another, and incompetence all over the place. The ferry system needs a thorough housecleaning.

The headline makes it sound like the captain was asleep at the wheel, but then the article explains it was an error with staffing and communication and that it is normal and routine for captains to sleep aboard the ship before their run. I wonder how many people will only read the headline and will have entirely the wrong idea about what happened?

Why not just shut it down or privatize it and save taxpayer money? It doesn't pay for itself anyway, it is a free ride on the taxpayers. The only problem with that is the fares would need to be too high to cover the cost of operation. Everyone in the State pays for the fares the way it is now. Thanks Eastern Washington!

Typical incompetent WA state employee!!! Want better ferry service? PRIVATIZE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

"we're going to make sure that when assignments are made, employees know what their assignments are. ", says Paula Hammond.....WHOA! now that is some serious solution there my friends!

 

my favorite quote a couple months ago was from the union head saying that they suggest alarm clocks for these goof ball employees.

 

 the ferry workers seem to have very little regard to the people they serve, or their own jobs.

KOMO should have Eric's Little Heroes do a segment on the Washington State Ferry workers.

Professional incompetence comes to mind. First thought........

Love the Unions.  High five my brothers - taKE CONTROL!!

At least he wasn't at the wheel...

Fire the bum.

All they have  to do is look to hospitals for some guidance on scheduling systems, sick call back up, six-week out schedules, and holiday schedules that are different from the regular schedules.  In a hospital, after three no shows for not knowing your schedule your fired.  It's just not that hard. I can't imagine canceling patient care because of sick calls or having no food for patients because the kitchen closed due to scheduling conflicts. Either the ferry system is reliable or it's not, there's no in between. Extreme weather is the only excuse to shutdown.  

No excuses or explanations from me this time.  This is a totally inexcusable incident.

Neither of the ferry routes serving Whidbey Island are reliable. I swear the Port Townsend schedule is set by someone's horoscope. They have their own time zone. The concession store opens whenever whoever in there decides to open. She was in there reading a newspaper about an hour after the scheduled time ignoring customers remarks,, she yawned and put the paper down and finally opened the gate. I can't tell you how many times that ferry had cancelled runs and delayed schedules. This article caught my attention thus the rant. I figure it will fall on deaf eyes.

The story is better if you have the Benny Hill Theme playing in the background.

Totally misleading head line.  I once fell asleep on a late night Bainbridge Island run (where it lets of Bainbridge then poceeds to Bremerton) and ended up in Bremerton at 3:30 am.  Kinda the same.

Lameness.

I thought the ferry workers were union professionals.

 

Which essentially means, mess up and no problems.

Let's see - my schedule says I am the Captain today so I guess I'll just pick which boat I'm going to be on?  Or does one have more comfortable beds than the other?    Tooby Roosday is correct - they are the Keystone Cops and the Three Stooges mixed together.  Unfortunately people rely on these idiots to get to real jobs that require you to show up on time!

Does anybody else see the resemblance of WSDOT and the ferry employees to the Keystone Cops or is it just me?  If this wasn't such a pathetic situation caused by a totally incompetent, inept and ineffectual state department along with overpaid, uncaring ferry staff, it would be hilarious.

How can this be so difficult. I get my work schedule the week prior to it starting and I go to work where I am scheduled at the appropriate time. How is this considered antiquated? Sounds to me like nobody gives a fat crap about their jobs. Maybe its time to clean house.

At least he was not intoxicated, or goofing around with his girlfriend. Anyone remember those ones??? Maybe they need to do better screening and background checks.