WSF Officers Save Fuel, Win Presidential Award
Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division employees devised a plan that saved US$700,000 a year. Crew members of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division won the President’s Transportation Award for water transportation and were recognized for their exemplary service to save fuel on the Edmonds/Kingston ferry route. Beginning in 2010, three WSF employees – Staff Chief Engineer Mark Nitchman, Captain John Tullis and retired Captain Bill Chapple – collaborated to identify a method to save fuel on one of the largest vessels in the system, the 202-car, 2,500-passenger Puyallup, serving the Edmonds/Kingston route.
Fab Four
Imagine running your car 20 hours a day, seven days a week, for most weeks of the year. Oh, and your vehicle is at least 18 years old, and has been running the same demanding schedule all those years. Isn't it likely you'd soon find yourself waiting for a tow truck, or at least limping in to the mechanic? That's the kind of rugged regimen four ferries faced in 1998 - and sailed through with flying colors. Cathlamet, Hiyu, Spokane and Hyak all kept up a grueling service schedule without missing a single scheduled crossing. It's a great achievement that points to the skill of the engineers who work to keep the ferries running smoothly. Even more amazing is the fact 1998 was the third year in a row that Cathlamet did not break down while in service.
