The Washington State Ferry system has been failing ferry-dependent communities and engine room crew alike for years. The crew shortage on Oct. 5, which caused massive service disruptions, was symptomatic of a workforce crisis ignored for too long. Low morale and frustration that compensation does not reflect qualifications, responsibilities or the demands of the job have made it increasingly difficult to find engineers willing to work additional shifts — contributing to missed sailings, not just last week, but too often across all routes on the system.
Marine engineers are invisible to the ferry-riding public, but ferries depend on us for operations, repairs and maintenance. It takes 1,080 days of sea service to qualify for a third assistant engineer’s license and an additional 720 days of sea service to qualify for a chief engineer’s license. It also requires many years of education and training and more than 1,000 days of work in vessel engine rooms to be eligible to take a series of difficult exams and qualify to become a licensed engineer officer.
We work below deck in a loud, windowless, hot environment, ensuring safe operations and doing needed maintenance and repairs. As alternate staff chief engineer on the M/V Issaquah Chris Schneider wrote in the Vashon Beachcomber in 2024: “We are trained in a variety of emergencies ranging from vessel hijacking to firefighting; vessel crew are first responders. We take pride and ownership of the vessels we are assigned to, and care for these boats like they’re a family member because we know our passengers rely on us for the safe passage of their families.”
For years, our work force has been stretched to the breaking point because the system is being run on massive amounts of overtime due, in part, to a lack of relief engineers. Washington State Ferries engine crew worked more than 100,000 hours of overtime last year alone. We already work 84 hours in a seven-day workweek, and because we don’t want to let down ferry dependent communities, many work an extra 500-1,500 hours of overtime each year.
Not only does this reliance on overtime cost the state more, it’s causing exhaustion and burnout, and poor morale. A June survey of WSF marine engineers found more than 60% say they are likely to retire or leave WSF for a job elsewhere. Forty-two percent say they have had to cancel planned vacation and other time off due to short staffing or overtime demands.
Despite the underhanded attempt by the state to convince the public that engine room staff are overpaid, facts are facts. Our wages have fallen 20% below those of our shipmates above deck. And despite state law that requires that our salaries and benefits “be competitive,” WSF engine room employees make 40% less than public and private sector maritime engineers.
In the midst of a global marine engineer shortage, engine room workforce challenges at WSF will only further hobble ferry service in the years ahead if left unaddressed. Today, the system is struggling to operate 18 vessels on a reliable schedule. When even one or two crew call out sick or decline to take on more overtime, a boat ties up.
The state is spending billions of dollars to convert the ferry system to hybrid-electric by 2040. First deliveries are projected in the next few years, with service starting around 2029 to 2030. These new vessels are plug-in hybrid-electric that can run primarily on batteries, then switch to diesel engines when needed. When we have a full fleet of hybrid-electric vessels ferrying passengers around Puget Sound in the very near future, it’s going to be even more important that our wages are competitive enough to retain and recruit the most qualified experienced engineers at WSF.
We are encouraged that Gov. Bob Ferguson has publicly acknowledged the need to close the wage gap. His agreement to order a new salary survey is step one toward the solution — paying Washington State Ferries engineers competitive wages.
WSF has also stepped up, posting job openings for more relief engineers to cover shifts when our regular crew members have scheduled or sick leave or other extended absences.
Engineers who work on Washington State Ferries have chosen this work for a reason. We love our jobs. We live in the ferry-dependent communities we serve. And we want the ferry system to be safe and reliable for all the people and businesses who depend on it. We are encouraged to see important steps being taken toward improving conditions for our essential engine room workforce, key to ensuring the reliable service ferry-dependent communities, businesses and visitors deserve.
