Ferry schedules to be dramatically different if USCG upholds its ruling

By COLLEEN ARMSTRONG

Islands Sounder Web site editor, Editor

Jun 01 2009, 12:49 PM · UPDATED

There's some new trouble brewing for the ferries – and this time it's not about finances.

In the past, the United States Coast Guard has waived its requirement for Washington State Ferries to schedule crew shifts of 12 hours or less in a 24-hour period.

But last August, the USCG ruled it would no longer grant that waiver, telling WSF that it needed to amend its crew endurance issues.

Because of this ruling, “touring watches” (back to back shifts with a sleep period in between) will no longer be possible.

What's the impact this will have on ferry riders? WSF has drafted new schedules to reflect the loss of crew members who can no longer work back to back shifts. The proposed fall schedule will impact San Juan Island the most, but Orcas, Lopez, and Shaw will feel the effects too.

WSF released its confidential draft 2009 fall schedule in January to the county council, and councilman Howie Rosenfeld says they have been trying to work with the ferries to come up with alternatives.

“We came up with some proposals, but we haven't been a part of the negotiations – it's been between the union and the ferries,” Rosenfeld said. “We're frustrated. And it's getting late.”

Ed Sutton, chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee, said WSF has been negotiating new work rules with the union that would allow for extra flexibility in scheduling shifts.

“But the union has wanted veto authority over the service schedules and it has resulted in an impasse with negotiations,” he said.

On June 10, there will be a meeting with representatives from WSF and the union to overcome that

stalemate.

“The proposed schedules from WSF for the islands to begin in the fall are not acceptable to the San Juan FAC,” Sutton said. “They represent a dramatic change to the manner in which we would conduct our lives regarding ferry travel.”

The county council presented a letter to the coast guard requesting that the elimination of touring watches be waived.

“There's ample evidence to indicate that things will be less safe without touring watches because we've got crews that will have to commute long distances to work on the boats,” Rosenfeld said. “Because of the long run to San Juan Island, the touring watches make more sense.”

Many of the ferry workers live as far away as Bellevue, and have relied on working extended hours.

The letter also states that the draft schedule eliminates mooring a mainland boat overnight in Friday Harbor, which is a “valuable asset in our community's planning.”

Marta Coursey, director of communications for WSF, said the deadline for resolving this issue is July.

“We're moving forward with the presumption that we'll find mutually beneficial decision. We're just not there yet,” she said.

WSF is holding a series of community meetings across in June to answer questions and present information on its long-range plan, vehicle reservations, the tariff process, and more. Locally, the meetings will be on Thursday, June 11, aboard the inter-island ferry (departing Friday Harbor at 11:40 a.m., Orcas at 12:30 p.m., Shaw at 12:45 p.m., and Lopez at 1:05 p.m.) and in Anacortes at the Fidalgo Senior Center from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

“We hope people will confront WSF during the public meeting,” Rosenfeld said. “I don't have much hope that they're going to waive it. But I wish they would, and we're trying. In the long-term, we could go to our federal representatives and try to apply some pressure.”

Islands Sounder Web site editor, Editor Colleen Armstrong can be reached at editor@islandssounder.com or (360) 376-4500.

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