b'MEMBER NEWSMEMBER NEWS Helm Operations to ModernizeWashington State Ferries Dispatching SystemH elmOperations,aglobal maritimeoperationssoft-warecompany,hasbeen awardedacontractbyWashington State Ferries (WSF) to replace its legacy crewdispatchingsystemwithHelm CONNECTaweb-basedsolution purpose-built for maritime operations.WSFoperates21vesselsacross10 routes and 20 terminals. Helm CON-NECTsdispatchingplatformwillinformation to support the effectiveThe new system will optimize com-improvingtheefficiency,consisten- management of agency operations, asplicated processes such as watch/shift cy, and accessibility of processes andwell as service delivery to the public.scheduling and dispatching, position andvacationbidding,training,and qualifications.Additionalbenefits include improvements to the transpar-ency of the information, application datasecurity,payrollauditing,and verificationthatagencypolicyand U.S.CoastGuardregulationsare followed.Accordingtoastatement by WSF, the new web-based platform madeformaritimeoperationsisex-pected to be in place in 2027.Thisinitiativemarksastepforward inmaritimetechnologyadoption across government fleets and signals a renewed focus by WSF leadership on reliability, operational resilience, and employee experience.This modern platform will replace our agingAutomatedOperationSched-uling System, which no longer meets PHOTO: WASHINGTON STATE FERRIESthe processing and reporting needs of WashingtonStateFerries,saidBeth Stowell,Sr.DirectorofFleetOpera-tions for Washington State Ferries. FOGHORN 42'