Abstract
Fast ferry traffic and vessel speed are on the rise in San Francisco Bay. A conservative analysis estimates that daily fast ferry trips may increase from today’s 100-plus trips to 665 trips in only 10 years. Although providing great opportunities for industry and travelers alike, increasing speed and congestion raise important safety considerations that could overwhelm the existing safety infrastructure. The U.S. Coast Guard, California Maritime Academy, and Pacific Transit Management Corporation have developed the outline for a formal safety assessment (FSA) that will consider the effect of more fast ferries on San Francisco Bay from a port-waterway systems perspective rather than from the traditional vessel safety approach. The FSA process will detail existing project risks and forecast future risks, identify best practices, and recommend the implementation of the most effective, efficient, and equitable risk management alternatives. Safety issues raised by increasing fast ferry traffic are discussed, FSA aspects are detailed, and the most recent information on progress toward understanding and improving fast and safe ferry operations in San Francisco Bay is presented.
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