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Colman Dock News

23 Jan 2018

Autonomous Vessels: Modern Ferries Evolve

Credit: Stuart Isett for Vigor

Automated now; autonomous looms large in the center porthole. The word ‘autonomous’ is probably the maritime industry’s most frequently used term in the past year. The word, however, has a far different meaning than the similarly sounding “automated” – which means that certain processes are handled by machines, rather than by humans. Throughout 2017, industry thought leaders have been mulling over the new digital paradigms that are emerging including the ‘Internet of Things’ and/or the linkage of processes and machines – the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ – where devices talk to each other…

02 Oct 2015

Floating Pep Rally to Set Sail for Seahawks

Photo: WSF

For its first ever "floating pep rally" Washington State Ferries will provide some pomp with its extra ferry sailings as the Seahawks take on the Detroit Lions Monday in Seattle. WSF said it will offer additional ferry service Monday, October 5, inviting fans to wear team colors and “bring the Boom” aboard the 1:45 p.m. sailing from Bremerton to Seattle as they make their way to the 5:30 p.m. game. Aiming to “help 12s amp up their game-day spirit,” WSF said the Kingston High School Buccaneer Band will perform on the passenger deck for as the ferry pulls into Colman Dock.

13 Aug 2015

Washington State Ferries Adds Extra Trips

Friday’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos marks the start of football fans’ ferry travel season. To manage the influx of people, Washington State Ferries will provide additional ferry sailings leaving Bremerton at 10:15 p.m. and leaving Seattle at 11:30 p.m. Each home game, thousands of fans take ferries on their way to CenturyLink Field. The 12th Man isn’t alone in making for busy ferries this weekend: Hempfest and a Sounders game will also to add to rider counts. Join WSF and the U.S. Coast Guard at Colman Dock Thursday, Aug. 13, to learn how they ensure fans and commuters get where they are going safely and on time during large events. When:     2 :30–3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. Where:    Information booth inside the Colman Dock terminal building in downtown Seattle.

22 Jan 2015

Whale Carcass Washes Up Under Seattle Ferry Dock

A dead gray whale has floated underneath a busy commuter ferry terminal in downtown Seattle, sending a putrid odor wafting onto the dock and diverting some passenger ferries to another slip, a transportation official said on Thursday. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration planned to remove the carcass later in the day and perform tests to determine the cause of death, said Susan Harris, a spokeswoman with Washington State Ferries. The whale carcass, which Harris described as "a little bit smelly," was estimated at between 25 and 35 feet (7.6 and 10.6 meters) long and had apparently drifted in from open waters, lodging under the busy Colman Dock in Seattle.

13 Feb 2008

Snohomish Resumes Service

The 149-passenger Snohomish was back in service with a 9 a.m. departure from the Bremerton Ferry Terminal, following a hard landing last night and an unrelated back-up generator malfunction this morning. Both Washington State Ferries (WSF) and the U.S. Coast Guard are conducting separate investigations into the incident that took place a little after 5 p.m. Feb. 11. The initial report is that there was construction equipment in the way as the Snohomish attempted to land at the Bremerton Terminal. The vessel, which was carrying approximately 141 passengers plus crew, tried to maneuver around the equipment and landed hard at the terminal. Some minor injuries to five passengers were reported. There was no damage to the vessel or terminal.

25 Aug 1999

You've Got Mail: 'Ferry Delayed'

It's never easy being a commuter across Puget Sound. Vessels break, weather intrudes and boats overload. But it just got a little bit easier. Washington State Ferries has introduced a new service to help commuters plan their trips, in spite of breakdowns or weather problems. The new service, email notification, sends electronic messages to customers signed up for a specific route or routes. The service is working for many ferry commuters. More than 900 have signed up, even though the new system is still in the testing mode. "As a commuter, I get as frustrated as anyone when there's a disruption in service, but things do happen," writes Bremerton commuter Edward Shanahan.

24 Sep 1999

WSF Prepares for Major Disaster

Like other agencies, Washington State Ferries has had the elements of an emergency preparedness plan in place for several years. But the ferry system is in the process of improving the plan to make sure workers throughout the system are as well prepared as possible for natural emergencies. A big step forward has been taken with the completion of the new Emergency Management Plan (EMP) book, which details how the ferry system will react in an emergency and how it will coordinate with other agencies to provide assistance. The EMP becomes a chapter in the state Department of Transportation's overall plan for responding to emergencies. The EMP contains emergency-response procedures for ferry employees on the boats, at the terminals and in the central offices.

14 Jan 2000

Ferry Service Preserved in Short-Term

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is actively working on proposals addressing budget reductions stemming from the passage of Initiative 695 (I-695). The overall effort is designed to bring WSF's programs and operations into alignment with the new budget requirements. "The message we are getting from voters is to institute operating efficiencies while protecting vital services," said Paul Green, director and CEO, WSF. According to Green, in order of priority, service reductions are last on the list. First on the list are reductions in management and support staff. The second priority in saving money is to reduce capital expenditures to reflect the new budget. The final savings will be produced by reducing service.