named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Automated Weather Station (AWS) Initiative
Advocacy and research program promoting installation of real-time weather monitoring on ferries via AIS-based systems
Ferry Design Competition
Annual international student competition challenging teams to design safe, affordable ferries for specific river systems; includes technical evaluation and awards ceremony
Ferry Safety & Technology Conference
Biennial conference convening industry experts, researchers, and policymakers to discuss innovations in ferry safety, operations, and technology
Student Research Program
Supports university-level research on ferry safety, accident analysis, and design improvements in developing nations
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Professional Networking Events 2 activities
- Advocate for improved ferry safety policies and technologiesRepresents the organization at international conferences such as PACSAR, Safety@Sea, and 3D Printing in Transportation to present research, distribute fact sheets, and promote safety technologies and policy changes.
- Host international ferry safety and technology conferences and webinarsOrganizes annual in-person and virtual conferences and webinars featuring expert panels, presentations, and student awardees, covering topics such as vessel design, training, telematics, and pandemic-related safety, with events held in New York, Bangkok, and online.
-
-
Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 2 activities
- Promote ferry safety through international technical missionsConducts on-site ferry safety assessments in collaboration with governments and international organizations, including stakeholder interviews, site visits, and delivery of formal recommendations, as demonstrated by a mission in Indonesia supported by the World Bank.
- Support implementation of safety technologies in ferry operationsCollaborates on deploying technologies such as Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to improve ferry safety in high-risk regions like Bangladesh.
-
-
Industry-Specific Student Scholarships and Competitions 1 activity
- Award grants to student teams in ferry design competitionsFunds prize awards for student teams participating in its international design competitions, distributing $10,000 annually with the top prize at $5,000, supported by external grants such as from Lloyd's Register Foundation.
-
-
STEM Competition and Robotics Programs 1 activity
- Organize annual international student design competitions for safe, affordable ferriesHosts and sponsors an annual competition challenging student teams globally to design safe, affordable, and often electric or renewable-energy-powered ferries for high-risk waterways in countries including Nigeria, Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, with winning designs intended for local construction.
-
-
Uncategorized 3 activities
- Collect and analyze global ferry fatality dataMaintains a comprehensive database of ferry fatalities since 2000 with 25 data points per incident, and publishes analyses on causation trends, regional patterns, and national safety performance.
- Implement safety training programs for ferry crewsDevelops and delivers safety training modules and courses for ferry crews, including a two-day program in Bangladesh with instructional videos and pre/post testing for 100 participants.
- Publish research on ferry safety and technologyProduces and publishes peer-reviewed research articles and conference papers on ferry safety, including topics such as weather monitoring, behavioral analytics, and vessel tracking systems, in journals like Marine Technology and Pacific Marine Watch.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$32K
Contributions & grants$25K77%
Program service revenue$7K23%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$31K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$3K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$3K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +106.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- Captain Nurur Rahman — Board Member
- James De Simone — Board Member
- John Waterhouse — Board Member
- Len Roueche — Board Member
- Mary Ann Pastrana — Board Member
- Roberta Weisbrod — Executive Director
- Tom Fox — Board Member
relationships · 74
Who they work with
- ABB Partner — Presented on electric ferries and data applications at the 2018 conference.
- ABS Partner — Keegan Plaskon from ABS presented on holistic vessel safety and the evolution of safety culture and management systems in ferry operations.
- American Institute of Marine Underwriters Partner — Presented on the relationship between telematics and maritime insurance at the 2017 WFSA Conference.
- Arcadia Alliance Partner — Participated in discussions on composite ferries and electric ferry construction at the 2018 conference.
- Archipelago Ferries Partner — Presented on modernizing ferry services with best practice training and safety culture at the 2017 WFSA Conference.
- Bangladesh Department of Shipping Government — Partnered to identify training needs, develop and modify safety training modules, and deliver training to ferry crew.
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Partner — Recognized Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology as a winning team in multiple student design competitions.
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Partner — Student team from BUET won the 12th Annual International Student Design Competition.
- Bay Design Group Partner — Engages John Waterhouse Elliott of Bay Design Group to moderate discussions on future ferry designs.
- Bridgeport–Port Jefferson Ferry Partner — Buckley McAllister from the Bridgeport–Port Jefferson Ferry presented on their system and preventive maintenance practices.
- Candela Partner — Collaborates with Candela, designer of the world’s first all-electric long range ferry, for expert presentations on future ferry technology.
- Captain Nurur Rahman Partner — Engages Captain Nurur Rahman as moderator and discussion leader for the student design competition webinar.
- Chao Phraya Express Boat Co., Ltd. Partner — Collaborated with WFSA on the 2017 Ferry Design Competition, providing operational context for the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
- Charles R. Cushing Partner — Engages Charles R. Cushing as moderator for the student design competition webinar.
- Damen Partner — Presented on ferry design and operations in the Ivory Coast at the 2017 WFSA Conference.
- Delaware River Bay Authority Partner — Michael Lynch from the Delaware River Bay Authority presented on ferry maintenance for the Cape May-Lewes ferry service.
- Eliot Bay Design Group Partner — Collaborated on ferry design topics including aluminum and electric ferries at the 2018 conference.
- FRS Partner — Len Roueche of FRS co-moderated Panel 4 on Telematics, Augmented Reality, and Affordability at the 2017 WFSA Conference.
- Fike Partner — Presented on early detection of smoke and fire systems for ferries at the 2017 WFSA Conference.
- Globology Waterbus Partner — Partner organization working on ferry safety in Kenya with a focus on Lake Victoria.
- HMS consulting Partner — Represented Gee’s Bend ferry operations in discussions on electric ferry implementation.
- Hannur Maritime Consultants Partner — Captain Nurur Rahman of Hannur Maritime Consultants, a WFSA Board Member, presented at the 2023 conference on student awardees in the international ferry design competition.
- Hitachi Insight Group Partner — Collaborated with NYWaterway to present on mesh network applications for ferry safety at the 2017 WFSA Conference.
- Hochschule Bremen, City University of Applied Sciences Partner — Awarded first place in the 7th Annual International Student Design Competition for their Ro-Pax ferry design for Lake Victoria, Kenya.
- Hornblower Partner — Presented on the use of a crowded-harbor simulator for ferry operator training at the 2017 WFSA Conference.
- Hornblower Group Partner — Davi Smyth from the Hornblower Group presented on their maintenance system at the 2023 conference.
- Indonesia National Transport Safety Committee Partner — Collaborated with a representative from the Indonesia National Transport Safety Committee on a 2019 ferry safety mission in Indonesia.
- Interferry Partner — Collaborates on ferry safety initiatives, including the Ferry Safety project in the Philippines.
- Interferry Partner — Provided input for training modules and translated the course materials into Bangla.
- International Maritime Organization Partner — Collaborated with WFSA on the 2016 design competition, with an IMO representative presenting awards and acknowledging joint efforts in improving domestic ferry transport safety.
+ 44 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Human Factors and Behavioral Safety Frameworksmethodology: human_factors_in_maritime_safetyBy analyzing human error through frameworks like SAFE MODE and near-miss reporting systems, the organization prevents ferry accidents because understanding and addressing behavioral and organizational factors in maritime operations leads to improved safety culture, training, and incident prevention.
- Knowledge Dissemination and Sector-Wide Learningmethodology: knowledge_disseminationBy convening stakeholders through annual conferences, webinars, and global surveys, the organization advances ferry safety because cross-sector sharing of protocols, technologies, and innovations enables systemic adaptation and resilience across diverse ferry operating environments.
- Multifaceted Safety Improvement Frameworkmethodology: multifaceted_safety_approachBy addressing ferry safety through an integrated approach encompassing infrastructure, weather risks, human factors, training, and technology, the organization achieves greater impact because safety outcomes are maximized when interventions are coordinated across technical, human, and systemic dimensions.
- Student Innovation Competitions for Safety and Affordabilitymethodology: student_innovation_competitionBy engaging university students globally in designing safe, affordable ferry concepts, the organization generates innovative, context-specific solutions that address root causes of ferry fatalities—such as ageing vessels, overcrowding, and poor hull design—because youth-driven, challenge-based innovation produces novel and implementable designs tailored to high-risk regions.
- Technology-Enabled Monitoring and Safety Systemsmethodology: technology_implementation_brokeringBy promoting and brokering the implementation of technologies like Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and electric propulsion, the organization improves ferry safety and operational transparency because real-time monitoring, collision avoidance, and sustainable propulsion directly reduce maritime incidents and support long-term resilience in inland and coastal waterways.