The countdown begins: FERRIES 2024 is two weeks away

In just two weeks, ferry industry professionals from around the world will converge in Seattle for Marine Log’s FERRIES 2024 conference, an event poised to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the ferry sector. From October 29-30, the conference will bring together a diverse community of ferry operators, vessel builders, engineers, policymakers, and technology innovators to share insights, discuss future trends, and explore solutions for sustainable, safe, and efficient...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/the-countdown-begins-ferries-2024-is-two-weeks-away/

Washington State Ferries Reached another Step in its Electrification Journey

Three shipbuilders are interested in building five hybrid-electric 160-car ferries for WSF. Each have sent pre-qualification packages after WSF invited shipbuilders across the country to bid. In 2023, the Legislature passed a law allowing WSF to seek shipbuilders nationwide and to build vessels at...

https://ferryshippingnews.com/washington-state-ferries-reached-another-step-in-its-electrification-journey/

WSF: Three yards in running to build new hybrid-electric ferries

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Eastern Shipbuilding Group and Philly Shipyard are likely to bid to build Washington State Ferries’ planned series of five new hybrid-electric 160-car ferries, according to WSDOT Assistant Secretary Steve Nevey, the head of Washington State Ferries’

“We’ve reached another exciting step in our electrification journey! Three shipbuilders are interested in building five hybrid-electric 160-car ferries for us,” Nevey writes in his weekly update. “They are Nichols...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/wsf-three-yards-in-running-to-build-new-hybrid-electric-ferries/

Electrification: Leading the “charge”

By Michael D. White

The clock is ticking down as the maritime industry is racing to implement innovative technologies to meet the net-zero emissions by 2050 set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2023.

To meet the challenge, electrification is being folded into the mix as a doable ‘green’ solution and vessel operators and designers along the West Coast from Alaska to California are leading the effort to develop and implement the latest developments in the field to reduce...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/electrification-leading-the-charge/

FERRIES 2024: Leading the charge in electrifying Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries (WSF), the largest ferry system in the U.S., is at the forefront of system-wide electrification. This summer, WSF advanced its electrification efforts by inviting shipyards from across the nation to bid on the construction of five new hybrid-electric ferries, each designed to carry 160 vehicles. Notably, the last vessels built out of state for WSF were delivered in 1967.

As WSF’s plans progress, a panel of experts will discuss the project at the 37th Annual Marine Log...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/ferries-2024-leading-the-charge-in-electrifying-washington-state-ferries/

VIDEO: Shipyard bid request marks new WSF electrification milestone

Washington State Ferries (WSF) has taken another big step forward in its electrification plans. It has now invited shipyards from across the U.S. to bid on building five new hybrid-electric ferries, each capable of carrying 160 vehicles .

As readers who have been following the WSF electrification story know, WSF has been unable to agree a shipyard contract to build the hybrid vessels in state, as was previously a required under state law. However, last year , the state legislature passed a law...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/video-shipyard-bid-request-marks-new-wsf-electrification-milestone/

Steve Nevey chosen as new head of Washington State Ferries

Washington State Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar has announced that Steve Nevey will serve as assistant secretary for the Washington State Ferries Division, succeeding Patty Rubstello, who is stepping down as head of WSF to spend more time with family after more than 33 years of service with the Washington State Department of Transportation. Rubstello will remain assistant secretary to ensure a smooth transition until Nevey begins his new role on March 16.

A career mariner, Nevey is a...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/steve-nevey-chosen-as-new-head-of-washington-state-ferries/

Washington State Ferries ridership up again in 2023

In what could be a hopeful sign for ferry operators across the U.S., over 1.3 million more riders boarded Washington State Ferries (WSF) in 2023 than in 2022. The 7.4% spike from 2022 pushed annual ridership at America’s largest ferry system to nearly 18.7 million last year.

For the second year in a row, the rise in annual ridership was fueled by a large jump in walk-on passengers. The number of walk-ons soared by nearly 487,000, or 14.2%, as tourism and in-person work continue to rebound from...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/washington-state-ferries-ridership-up-again-in-2023/

Cyberattack hits Washington State Ferries

Maritime’s vulnerability to cyberattacks continues – around the world. Last week, as one of Australia’s largest port operators, DP World Australia was forced to shut down operations for three days, Washington State Ferries, too, was hit by a cyberattack. It didn’t shut down operations, but it was a major inconvenience for ferry users.

Key parts of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s website and mobile app — including those for Washington State Ferries (WSF) were down from Tuesday...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/cyberattack-hits-washington-state-ferries/

Fatigue, complacency led to ferry strike on mooring dolphin near Seattle, NTSB report finds

Fatigue and complacency led to a passenger and car ferry striking a mooring structure, or dolphin, at a ferry terminal in Seattle, Washington, last year, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said earlier this week. The contact resulted in US$10.3 million in damages to the vessel and...

https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/passenger-vessel-world/ro-pax/fatigue-complacency-led-to-ferry-strike-on-mooring-dolphin-near-seattle-ntsb-report-finds/