A risk management procedure for the Washington state ferries

The state of Washington operates the largest passenger vessel ferry system in the United States. In part due to the introduction of high-speed ferries , the state of Washington established an independent blue-ribbon panel to a ssess the adequacy of requirements for passenger and crew safety aboard the Washington state ferries. On July 9, 1998, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Washin gton State Ferry Safety engaged a consultant team from The George Washingto n University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/Le Moyne College to asses s the adequacy of passenger and crew safety in the Washington state ferry ( WSF) system, to evaluate the level of risk present in the WSF system, and t o develop recommendations for prioritized risk reduction measures, which, o nce implemented, can improve the level of safety in the WSF system. The pro bability of ferry collisions in the WSF system was assessed using a dynamic simulation methodology that extends the scope of available data with exper t judgment. The potential consequences of collisions were modeled in order to determine the requirements for onboard and external emergency response p rocedures and equipment. The methodology was used to evaluate potential ris k reduction measures and to make detailed risk management recommendations t o the blue-ribbon panel and the Washington State Transportation Commission.