FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
A message from Steve We’ve been thinking creatively over the last few years to address the well-documented crew shortages. We’re purposefully building a pipeline from “middle school to the pilothouse.” This encompasses both internal programs we’ve established to help our crew grow in their career and external outreach efforts. You will see that theme in this week’s update. We’re collaborating with several youth programs to spark interest in maritime careers amongst kids. I want to thank our fleet and Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility staff for the time they take working with these young people. When I was a young boy, my father returned from the Falklands War, where he served on the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible. As a family, we went down to meet him as the ship came into port. They took the families of all the crew who served out on the ship for a cruise around the harbor and back to the dock. From that moment on, I was hooked; I knew that all I wanted to do was work on ships. That’s why the stories we’re sharing in this week’s update are so important; I hope several of these kids were bitten by the same bug that I was. Whether they end up working for WSF or elsewhere in the industry, the maritime sector offers immensely rewarding opportunities. It has given me so much and I’m passionate about sharing that with the next generation of potential maritime professionals. Interested teens get behind-the-scenes, hands-on tour of Walla Walla We hosted two groups of high schoolers aboard Walla Walla recently to get a firsthand look at what it’s like to work at WSF. These tours are valuable for students interested in becoming a mariner right after graduation, which is how I got my start. During both recent visits, the teens from the West Sound Technical Skills Center and Mary M. Knight School District got a behind-the scenes look at how our deck and engine room crews operate. We also showed how we respond to rescue situations and walked them through a hands-on mock fire drill. These tours, in partnership with Core Plus Maritime, have allowed us to showcase our career opportunities that await these young potential employees.
Our employees showing a group from West Sound Tech what it’s like to work in the pilothouse of a ferry aboard Walla Walla on Feb. 26. Photo Credit The Orcasonian |
