b'MEMBER NEWSWashington State Ferries Crew Recognized for March RescueF our deck crew members ofWashington State FerriesSamish vessel received Lifesav-ingAwardsattheGovernorsIndus-trialSafetyandHealthConferenceinSeptemberthisyear.Chief Mate Justin McCaughan, Four Washington State Ferries crew members were recognized with Life Ring Honors at an event with Gov. Jay Inslee.Able-BodiedSailorDavidWickland,andOrdinarySailorsJustinHigginsand Brandon Torres were workingaboardtheSamishonMarch9whenthey helped rescue six boaters nearDecatur Island in rough weather.Afterhearingadistresscall,thecrewmoved the ferry to block the windandwavesfromreachingthe37cab-incruiser,whichwastakingonwater.Theythenlaunchedarescueboatandbrought four people aboard, givingthemcare.TheothertwostayedontheirvesselwithtwodogssotheU.S.CoastGuardcouldescortthembackto Anacortes. No one was seriouslyhurt. The Lifesaving Award recog-nizes Washington state employeescovered by industrial insurance forperformingurgent,hands-onlifesav-ingactionswhileonduty. Electrifying Ferries Across AmericaPHOTO: WASHINGTON STATE FERRIESThe crew members were also recog- Making smart, safe, and sustainable solutions a reality nizedwithLifeRingHonorsinearly for ferries across the Americas.OctoberinaceremonywithWashing-tonstateGov.JayInslee.47 OCTOBER 2024'