WSDOT tweeted, as noted in our story above, that more than 200 calls were made to try to find replacements.

Subject: Ferry Alert: Faunt/Va/SW – Cancelled Sailings – 2 Boat schedule in effect on Mon. 2/3
Date: Mon, Feb 3, 2014 8:33 am

All,

According to my sources this morning, this was not actually a “lack of qualified crew.” The 2 boat schedule was inacted because someone in Admin neglected to schedule coverage for the captain and mate who were scheduled far in advance to be off this morning for training, so instead of filling the positions, the decision was made to simply wait for the next crew change at 11 this morning? So, it’s easier to just go to a 2-boat schedule and disrupt hundreds of commuters for the morning run than to look for a replacement captain and mate, especially when this alert was sent at 11:17 LAST NIGHT?? There were NO qualified substitutes to cover for this morning’s shift?

If replacements were sought and unavailable, that’s one thing. At least an attempt was made. But if the decision was made to operate a 2 boat schedule INSTEAD of finding coverage, as it sounds like was the case, according to my sources, that is not good.

By the way, had it occurred to anyone that the wording on this alert, given the timing of the Super Bowl victory, makes it sound like there was no qualified crew because people decided to not show up due to too much celebration? Because based on the conversations I was hearing on the 6:40 from SW this morning, that is the conclusion that was being drawn by commuters. And it effectively throws boat crew under the bus, as it were.

Please clarify and correct if this information is incorrect. Because there are a LOT of unhappy Triangle Run commuters this morning.

Thank you,

—–Original Message—–
From: Washington State Ferries [mailto:WSFAlert@wsdot.wa.gov]
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 11:17 PM
To:
Subject: Ferry Alert: Faunt/Va/SW – Cancelled Sailings – 2 Boat schedule in effect on Mon. 2/3

Due to a lack of qualified crew, the following sailings are cancelled for Mon. 2/3:

4:05 am Vashon to Fauntleroy, 4:25 am Fauntleroy to Southworth, 5:00 am Southworth to Vashon and Fauntleroy, 5:50 am Fauntleroy to Vashon, and 6:10 am Fauntleroy to Vashon.

Beginning with the 6:15 am Vashon to Southworth sailing, the route will sail on a two-boat schedule. We apologize for the inconvenience. Updates will occur as more information becomes available.

Please see the two-boat schedule at:
http://www.wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/ScheduleDetailByRoute.aspx?route=f-v-s

This alert was sent on 2/2/2014 at 11:17PM to subscribers of the Fauntleroy (West Seattle) / Vashon / Southworth route.

Our Web Site is at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

You can change your account, anytime, at: https://secure1.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/account

Please send any comments or suggestions you may have to WSFAlert@wsdot.wa.gov

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In response to Maggie’s inquiry on Twitter, WSDOT has provided some context. I’m adding their tweet to the body of the story here. – TR

.

Mike

Have added to the story: WSF says it’ll be back to full three-boat service as of noon.

Just because there was a big game yesterday doesn’t mean everyone drinks or drinks excessively. It is flu and cold season.

The “shortage of qualified crew” actually happened a lot last year. Most of the time it “only” meant a cancellation of the earliest trip(s) of the day, before our morning traffic coverage in the 6 am hour, so we didn’t even mention it, but it drew citywide-media notice:
.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021796079_ferriesshortagexml.html
.
This time we mentioned it because a 2-boat schedule for much or all of the day has potential for spillover effects. – TR