Shane Rich has served as a captain on wooden ships and modern vessels. She’s now ready to join Metro as the Port Captain of our Marine Division.  

“I’ve had the pleasure of working in partnership with the King County Marine Division in my previous roles in the maritime industry and have enjoyed seeing the Water Taxi service thrive and expand,” Rich said. “I am excited to be joining this team and eager to contribute and be a part of the department’s success and growth.”

The Port Captain is the person responsible for the daily operation of the King County Water Taxi and its service to West Seattle and Vashon.

“Shane is an excellent addition to our water taxi team,” said Marine Director Terry Federer. “Her background and knowledge of the waterways around Elliott Bay means she’s ready to land feet first into the operation of our fleet as we get ready for summer sailing and expanding our service in Vashon.”

Capt. Rich comes to Metro after close to three decades of experience in the maritime industry within the Puget Sound region. She has successfully piloted vessels of varying types and sizes, ranging from quaint 100-year-old wooden single screw ferry boats to a state-of-the-art hybrid catamaran.

Shane has served as a Captain and manager at both Argosy Cruises and Kitsap Transit, with a focus on training, team building, and operational efficiency. The water taxi provides seven-day a week service to West Seattle with late night sailings on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer. Starting on July 1, the water taxi will expand weekday service to Vashon to include midday sailings.