SEATTLE — Washington State Ferries plans to add 45 deckhands in an effort to prevent staffing shortages that forced the cancellation of dozens of sailings.
The Seattle Times reports 30 seasonal deckhands who worked this summer are being retained and 15 more will be hired by the end of the year.
Staffing shortages have canceled 82 crossings this year on Puget Sound. Coast Guard regulations set minimum staffing levels for safety, and the ferry service was sometimes unable to find enough replacements for workers who were on vacation or called in sick.
