MANAGING AMID RAPIDLY CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES

This weather isn't inviting to travelers, but no matter.
That's not among the reasons for slow-down in ferry
traffic these days.   Here, the Arni J. Richter approaches
 the Island dock.  Washington, moored on the left, soon
will be ready to go from winter layup
 to assume the route's  daily operations.
(Purinton photo)

Detroit Harbor, Washington Island -

I met the ferry late afternoon yesterday afternoon at 3:30 pm (Tuesday, March 24), and coming off the ferry were two vehicles, a black pickup truck and the Ferry Line's box truck with the UPS/FedEx package freight.  There was but one paying passenger, the pickup driver.

Ferry Captain Tully Ellefson commented: "I don't think we had more than 20 vehicles Monday, all day."

The 8 am ferry departing Northport has typically been
a nearly full boatload, a mix of contractors, summer
property owners, and Island residents returning from
shopping and appointments off-island.  That pattern's
changed dramatically this week.

This morning, Wednesday, Mary Jo and I drove to meet the incoming Arni J. Richter's 8:00 am trip from Northport.  On board were: one bulk fuel semi, a dump truck modified to haul firewood to customers, and a contractor's van.  A total of three drivers and one vehicle passenger accompanied the vehicles.  Also, there was a bundle of morning papers for Mann's Store.  Waiting in line to board on the Island side were five autos and six occupants.

These are clear signs the public is heeding warnings.  On the one hand, a good thing: people are staying home, and we are carrying only essential traffic.  On the other hand, such low traffic volume provides minimal revenues to an operation that requires much higher numbers to sustain itself.

Following an analysis of the traffic vs. revenues experienced Friday through Sunday (March 20-22), and by projecting expenses vs. income for the next two months, Ferry Line management and Board took action to reduce our expenses and exposure (both the economic and the viral variety) through immediate modification of the ferry schedule.  Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, March 26, there will be only four daily round trips.  This change to the schedule will apply until further notice, with exceptions for medical emergencies, of course. We will need to be flexible from here on.

In light of previously published ferry schedules and web information, anyone who anticipates traveling by ferry, beginning tomorrow, should note the new departure times as follows:   
                        
                          Lv. Is.                                        Lv. Northport
                        8:00 am                                         9:00 am
                      10:00 am                                       11:00 am
                        1:00 pm                                        2:30 pm
                        3:30 pm                                        4:30 pm

Our projected ferry activity, coupled with the governmental urgings for the public to isolate, stay home and not travel, an even deeper look considers elimination of weekend trips.  Possibly all weekend trips.  That decision has not yet been made.

Ferry runs are being scheduled now with essential traffic only in mind.  The typical weekend traffic experienced in past springs would include folks coming for one or two days, such as property owners who are not full-time residents, with minimal or no commercial traffic.  Presently, folks who might show at Northport and take the ferry for sightseeing purposes - a good part of tourism revenue - are being discouraged from traveling to the Island.

Several other measures are being taken to protect both the public and Ferry Line workers.

    *  One ferry only will be utilized.  Currently, it is the AJR.  But several crew members are readying the ferry Washington, and going forward that will be the single ferry utilized.  One set of three crewmen will be on hand daily, along with shore administrative staff.  Shore maintenance work will be reduced to the most necessary tasks, or as required.

    * Package freight will continue to be transported daily from Northport, and then transferred from WIFL's vehicle to shelving or freight garage, as before, but with the aid of a conveyor transfer system.  This same set of rollers can also be used to provide a package to a customer, helping to minimize close interactions.

    *   At the Island's west terminal entry, normally used for customer package pickup/drop-off, visitors are asked to enter one at a time and then remain at a sensible distance, behind two chairs displaying the instruction to "Wait Here For Service."

Customers at the Island Ferry Office are requested
to stay a distance from the service counter, 
and to request assistance as needed. 
Janet Hanlin can always be reached at the
customer service desk.

UPS packages slide down conveyor. One way to reduce
package handling in an operation that requires
 repeated handling.

    *  The Northport upper lobby and restrooms are now closed, in part to reduce use by "Sunday drivers" and the general public.  This also reduces need to repeatedly clean those restrooms and associated surfaces.   (Please ask the crew if you need to use a restroom ashore.).  Rest rooms onboard the ferry will continue to be open for use by ferry passengers.

   *   The Island terminal lobby front door is closed, but restrooms will still be accessible from the package freight/customer entry.

    *  There will be no dedicated ticket seller.  As during wintertime operations, one crew member will man the ticketing booth on either side of the run, once the ferry is moored.

    *  New Island office hours will also go into effect:  Monday thru Saturday:  8:00 am to 4:30 pm
                                                                                         Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
                                                                                         Closed Sundays

All of the above changes seem drastic, severe, even.  And they are.  And they are meant to be.  The health and lives of our Crew and Customers may hang in the balance, even though as this is being written there have been no recorded cases of Coronavirus in Door County.  It may be a matter of days, or weeks, but protection now is best, we are convinced.

Secondly, we have grave concerns for the health of all island businesses, the Ferry Line included.  The only way to come out of this, we think, is to look for a more normal set of activities in the second half of the summer.  But, we'll see how it goes.

Employee door to freight garage.

Thanks to everyone for your understanding, and for your willing participation in what appears to be the greatest social disruption in Island history. It's totally different from anything we've previously experienced.

 -  Dick Purinton