With aspirations to field an emission-free ferry fleet by 2050, state ferry officials sent out invitations to bid on May 30, seeking shipbuilders from across the nation to construct the fleet’s first five hybrid-electric vessels.

“That’s the main news right now,” said Steve Nevey, assistant secretary for Washington State Ferries (WSF),  in a June 7 interview with The Leader. Nevey took on the top role at WSF in March, when he succeeded Patty Rubstello, who stepped down after 33 years with Washington State Department of Transportation.

Later this year qualified firms will submit their bids, allowing officials to select one, or possibly two, shipbuilders. Under the contracting approach, two vessels could be delivered in 2028, two more in 2029, and the final ferry in 2030. The vessels are expected to support the Mukilteo-Clinton and Seattle-Bremerton routes.

As part of the long-range plan, ferry officials say they need 16 new hybrid-electric vessels and plan to convert six existing vessels to hybrid electric power. Steps are already underway to add shore charging to 16 terminals. Bainbridge Island is slated to have the first electrified terminal.

Never is a career, boots-on-the-deck mariner, with more than two decades aboard tankers, ferries, and private craft, and shoreside operations for Holland America. He sees revitalizing the aging fleet as one of the agency’s top priorities.

“I’ve been in the marine industry my whole career, I don’t see myself as a bureaucrat. I’m trying to bring in best maritime practices,” Nevey said. “I think most of our vessels are 30 to 40 years old. Vessels are mostly retired after 20 to 30 years. Renewing the fleet for the future is one of the main issues.”

In the meantime, and while waiting for ship construction, regular repairs, maintenance and conversions, Nevey said ferry managers are jockeying boats between routes to cover needs.

“Obviously we’re suffering a shortage of vessels,” Nevey said. “We’re trying to shuffle the deck so we have enough boats for each route. It’s difficult, I’m not going to lie.”

Nevey said the pressure is felt acutely in towns such as Port Townsend, which is down to just one ferry for the peak summer season.

“We have just one boat on the Port Townsend route for the summer,” Nevey said. “We’re doing all we can to have an additional boat on those busy weekends. The main focus is trying to get us back to two boats, back to pre-pandemic service levels.”

Nevey said agency managers are pushing for an additional ferry to help service Port Townsend for the Wooden Boat Festival weekend, but “couldn’t make any promises.”

In addition to restoration and expansion of the fleet, Nevey said bolstering the crew is also top on his priority list.

“We’re feeling really good about our crew numbers and getting back to pre-pandemic levels,” Nevey said. “We were in crisis, and now we’re in recovery. I’m excited.”

Prior to becoming assistant secretary, Nevey served for two years as director of marine operations. He joined the ferry system in 2021. In two years’ time, Nevey worked to develop programs targeting ongoing staff shortages and won the Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management in 2023.

Nevey said the pandemic crushed morale and depleted crew numbers, and left many members feeling like the world was against them.

“I think they hired me to fix this crewing challenge,” he said.

Nevey acknowledged that the ferry system has a long road to recovery, but said he feels strong support from the governor and state legislature. That was evidenced, Nevey said, when the legislature funded a $12 million program to train and advance crew members to “credentialed” positions, such as deck officers and captains.

“I just appreciate the patience,” Nevey said. “It’s going to take time, but I really want to restore the pride that was once in the ferry system.”

He is advocating for an economic impact survey, such that everyone can fully understand the role the ferry system plays in the state’s economy. It’s about transportation, commerce, recreation and tourism, Nevey said.

“It’s not just getting people from the island to the mainland for a doctor’s appointment,” Nevey said. “We see all routes equally. We know every route is critical to somebody.”