From delivering babies to fighting fires, ferry crews must be ready for anything

Mothers in labor. Laptop thieves. Galley fires. Passengers jumping overboard.

They're all potential emergencies during a ferry captain's shift on the largest ferry system in the United States.

And that's before factoring in rough seas, strong currents, dense fog and the occasional whale crossing the ferry's path.

For Jennifer Johnson, a veteran Washington State Ferries officer who has worked every route in the system, the unexpected is simply part of the job.

"Sometimes people assume we just park cars," Johnson said. "But there's lots of activities that go on."

Johnson, who holds a master's license and serves as chief mate – second in command of a ferry – shared stories from her career Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Mukilteo Library.

Her appearance was part of Sno-Isle Libraries' community reading program, Sno-Isle Reads Together, featuring the novel "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt.

Johnson's presentation offered an entertaining, occasionally sobering look behind the scenes of a transportation system that carried 19.1 million passengers in 2025.

An unexpected career

Johnson didn't begin her career on the water.

At 40, she was working as a massage therapist when her son left to join the Marines. She decided it was time for a career change.

She wanted good benefits and a job that didn't require a college degree.

She started at the Port Townsend ferry terminal, then moved aboard vessels, initially parking cars and cleaning restrooms.

After accumulating the required sea time, earning Coast Guard credentials and memorizing Puget Sound's navigational landmarks, she earned her captain's credentials in eight years.

"It's been a really incredible journey," Johnson said.

Today, she holds a permanent chief mate position but can serve as captain when a position becomes available.

She's worked every route, including the former international service to Sidney, British Columbia.

The most challenging? Port Townsend-Coupeville, where ferries cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca and navigate a narrow approach with land close on both sides.

"The most important decisions you make are keeping the boat safe and the passengers on board," she said. "That's your job."

Babies, jumpers and thieves

Medical emergencies are among the more common surprises.

Johnson said crews encounter heart attacks, drug overdoses and occasionally women about to give birth.

She recalled helping a woman in labor when an inexperienced second mate, apparently terrified at the prospect of delivering a baby, sought her assistance.

Johnson, who had two children of her own, reassured him and helped make the woman comfortable until an ambulance arrived.

More recently, a woman in advanced labor prompted the crew to increase the ferry's speed to get her to medical assistance.

Other emergencies require rescue boats.

Johnson described a recent incident in which a man jumped overboard in reduced visibility. He was rescued.

Crews also frequently assist distressed divers near the Edmonds terminal, where currents and propeller wash can create dangerous conditions.

Washington State Ferries crews participated in 46 lifesaving events in 2025, including several jumpers.

Then there's crime.

Johnson recalled discovering two apparently impaired people in a vehicle aboard a ferry. She instructed a deckhand to block the vehicle and requested law enforcement assistance.

But the occupants awakened, started their car, drove over the blocks and escaped the ferry during unloading.

Crews also encounter thefts, including stolen laptops and purses.

Unlike police officers, ferry employees have limited authority to detain passengers. They generally separate disruptive individuals from others and arrange for law enforcement to meet the vessel.

Firefighting and popcorn

Passengers might be surprised to learn that ferry crews also have to be trained firefighters.

Deck crew members undergo firefighting and water-survival training. They must demonstrate that they can put on their firefighting gear within two minutes.

And fires aren't merely hypothetical. Johnson recalled a popcorn machine catching fire aboard the Wenatchee.

Other fire incidents have involved unattended cooking and neglected appliances.

Crews practice emergency responses weekly, including firefighting, abandoning ship and rescuing people from the water.

No AI at the helm

Despite advances in technology, Johnson emphasized that piloting a Washington state ferry remains a human responsibility.

"AI has no place in our pilot house," she said.

There's no automatic guidance cable or cruise control directing the vessels between terminals.

Instead, licensed officers rely on radar, navigational instruments, experience and communication with their bridge teams.

On the Mukilteo-to-Clinton route, passengers may notice ferries sometimes traveling considerably south of the most direct crossing.

Johnson explained that a strong current can require officers to steer farther than expected, then allow the current to carry the vessel toward its destination.

Docking in challenging conditions is among her favorite parts of the job.

"That's the part I enjoy the most, using those skills," she said. "And they take time. It takes, you know, years."

Whales, weddings and pretzels

The job has its rewards.

Johnson has watched spectacular sunsets, spotted bald eagles and encountered whales throughout Puget Sound.

When crews spot whales, they slow to 7 knots or less to help protect the animals. The system recorded 687 whale sightings in 2025.

Ferries also provide some unusual services.

Couples occasionally marry aboard the vessels. Captains can but generally don't perform ceremonies because they're busy navigating.

Also, families can arrange to scatter a loved one's ashes at sea, with the ferry slowing for a brief ceremony. If you hear three prolonged blasts of its horn, that may be a salute to the departed.

And then there's the food.

Washington State Ferries sold about 172,000 pretzels in 2025.

Johnson prefers the popcorn – despite having once helped deal with a popcorn fire.

The job isn't always easy. Some shifts require waking at 1:30 a.m., working nights or traveling considerable distances to report for duty.

Still, Johnson remains grateful for the opportunity that allowed her to build a maritime career without attending a maritime academy.

For passengers, she offered a simple request: Pay attention, listen to crew instructions and be considerate of others.

Because while the public may see a ferry ride as a brief pause in the day's routine, the people operating the vessel are responsible for much more than getting everyone to the other side.