From: Leiste, Willy [LeisteW@wsdot.wa.gov] Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 3:59 PM To: Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen; Sen. Curtis King; Rep. Judy Clibborn; Rep. Mike Armstrong - 12th; Rep. Barbara Bailey; Rep. Norma Smith; Rep. Marko Liias; Rep. Mary Helen Roberts; Sen. Paull Shin; Rep. Drew Hansen; Rep. Sherry Appleton; Sen. Christine Rolfes; Rep. Kevin Van de Wege; Rep. Steve Tharinger; Sen. Jim Hargrove; Rep. Jan Angel; Rep. Larry Seaquist; Sen. Derek Kilmer; Rep. Jeannie Darneille; Rep. Laurie Jinkins; Sen. Debbie Regala; Rep. Eileen Cody; Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon ; Sen. Sharon Nelson ; Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson; Rep. Reuven Carlyle; Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles; Rep. Jeff Morris; Rep. Kristine Lytton ; Sen. Kevin Ranker Cc: Hammond, Paula; WSDOT Trans Commissioners Subject: WSDOT Bulletin: WSF Vessel Staffing Levels - October 30, 2012 Attachments: Coast Guard October 26 letter.pdf.pdf; WSF Manning Review response.pdf To: Senate and House Transportation Committee leadership, and Ferry Caucus Members These WSDOT Bulletins are sent on an as-needed basis to make you aware of high-profile or important issues. If you would like additional information, please contact me. WSF Vessel Staffing Levels WSF received a letter from USCG Sector Puget Sound on Oct. 26, 2012 regarding their assessment of the minimum manning requirements on the Jumbo Class and Super Class ferries. The USCG increased the number of required personnel aboard these classes of vessels citing passenger safety and emergency response duties. The Super Class (4 vessels) crew size is established as 14 (plus 3 crew) with the Jumbo Class (2 vessels) crew established as 14 (plus 1 crewmember). The USCG plans to implement this manning change and issue a new Certificate of Inspection within 30 days. WSF responded on Oct. 29 outlining our immediate next steps in order to meet these requirements, while highlighting the challenges of the thirty-day requirement in fulfilling the new minimum manning levels with regards to the addition of a licensed deck officer on each Super Class ferry. WSF anticipates another decision from the USCG by November 15 regarding changes to the manning levels on other vessel classes, namely the Issaquah (6 vessels), Evergreen State (3 vessels) and Kwa-di Tabil (3 vessels) classes. We have been working on this issue for the last 48 hours; however the preliminary budget impact of the Coast Guard decisions for the remainder of the FY 11-13 biennium is estimated to be $9.8 million which assumes a January 1, 2013 implementation date for all the increased staffing. This estimate includes the restoration of the budget since limited crew reductions (savings) were realized this past summer, wages and benefits for additional crew members, additional training costs for new second mates for the Super Class, training costs for AB and OS and other costs associated with this increase in crew across the Jumbo, Super, Issaquah, Evergreen State and Kwa-di Tabil classes of vessels. These staffing decisions will likely impact 18 vessels of our fleet of 22 ferries. For the FY2013-15 biennium, the full impact of the Coast Guard's manning decision is estimated to be $14.1 million. Again, this estimate includes the full staffing levels we expect the coast Guard to mandate on our ferry fleet, ongoing training and orientation costs associated with vessel crews. Similarly, these estimates presume higher crewing levels aboard nearly all of the current WSF fleet. I wanted to get this breaking information out to you as quickly as our preliminary budget estimates were developed. Recognize this could change, however we are certain of the impacts on the Jumbo and Super classes. I am out of the office for the next few days, so for additional information please contact Secretary Hammond, Chief of Staff Steve Reinmuth or my Deputy Chief, Captain George Capacci. Thank you, David H. Moseley Assistant Secretary, WSDOT Ferries Division