SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Some of the people who monitor the ships in the San Francisco Bay are being impacted by the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
These Vessel Traffic Service workers who are going without pay are vital to safety on the water.
The partial government shutdown is having a much wider impact than just long lines and frustrated flyers at airports.
“You’re not seeing big lines waiting in the port and not seeing backups because the folks at the VTS, Vessel Traffic Service, are going to work but they’re not being paid,” Scott Humphrey said.
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Humphrey spent 30 years as a civilian VTS operator under the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The VTS operators, just like air traffic controllers, they’re doing a very similar job,” he said.
But unlike air traffic controllers, you may not have noticed them as clearly.
“If you’ve ever driven toward Bay Bridge, look up just above the tunnel, that’s the vessel traffic service,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey is now retired but still chairs the Harbor Safety Committee for the San Francisco Bay region.
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He’s been through federal funding lapses before, but he says this one is taking a real toll.
“Twelve-hour shift, they’re on duty,” he said. “Well, the operation runs 24 hours a day as I understand, they haven’t been paid in about 3, maybe 4 weeks.”
While most people never see them, VTS operators are watching everything that moves on the water, from fuel shipments and agriculture barges to passenger ferries carrying thousands of commuters.
“They’re the ones monitoring all of this vital activity going on in the Bay,” Humphrey said.
Even though the public may not notice any disruption, the toll behind the scenes is real.
“I’m concerned they’re doing a good job, sounding really good, but stressing out at work,” Humphrey said.
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