Rescue training and quick thinking helped Pierce County ferry system crew members diffuse two potentially life-threatening incidents in a five-day period last month.
The County Council recognized five employees of Hornblower Marine Services with a proclamation July 29. Hornblower is under contract to operate the county’s ferries, which run between Steilacoom and Anderson and Ketron islands.

The first incident was on June 12, when crew members assisted a passenger during a medical emergency. Then, on June 16, they again put their training to work when they encountered and recovered a kayaker who was adrift in Puget Sound.

The Hornblower employees involved with the two rescues were Captain Jay Mooney, Engineer Bryan Friebel, Senior Deckhand Bryan Annis, Senior Deckhand Ben Howard, and Deckhand Brenda Johnson. Hornblower regularly conducts emergency and rescue training as part of their normal marine operations.