[QUOTE=c.captain;138675]This only goes to show how the WSF is one of the most inefficiently run maritime operations ever. Government cannot run vessels nearly as cost effectively as the private sector and I have always said that the running of the WSF fleet should go to a commercial contractor much as MSC turns many of its vessels over to the private sector to run. The State owns the vessels and facilities but run the vessels commercially and I bet the operating deficits go away real fast.
Oh but how the ferry crews would howl to actually be made to work for their pay! File a protest with the union! Bunch of effing layabouts!
Somebody pray tell me how other ferries look in the US? Staten Island say or Cape May or North Carolina or Nantuket? Certainly those boats cannot be as pitifully maintained as the WSF fleet? I know the BC ferries are all very nicely maintained as mentioned in the original article by Bruce Buls. There is also the COHO in Port Angeles. A old ship which always is very clean and well maintained.[/QUOTE]
Well Tell you that the staten island ferry are just as bad at least the older vessels JFK (1965) and Newhouse (1985) I wish we deckhands were able to do maintenance but we are just overpaid porters and security guards 
their are just not enough boats to keep the operation on track plain and simple