Plotting a Course – Northwest Navigation Co.

Northwest Navigation / David B Small Ship Cruises

“So, what if…,” has been the beginning of most of our conversations as we search for signs of when we’ll be able to start our season. Since we operate in two US states and a Canadian province, we’re constantly monitoring the orders of Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia looking for news of when we can fire up the engine and get underway.

Over the last few days it feels like there are some encouraging signs. The cases of coronavirus in Washington state have plateaued. There are some cautious steps being taken to ease some of our restrictions. It’s also been encouraging to see that some airlines are requiring people to wear masks, which is something we hope will become widespread in the coming weeks and months. As each day passes, the smart people in labs are learning more and more about how this virus works. It’s good to hear that new treatments are being tried and possible vaccines being developed.

So, what if…

Until there’s a vaccine, we are all going to have to adapt to life with a new and dangerous disease. It means we’ll do things differently and more cautiously. How will that happen? Here are some of the things that we’re monitoring:

The lifting of travel restrictions in Alaska, Washington, and Alaska.
The lifting of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for all people arriving in Alaska.
The possible seasonality of the virus.
The ability to perform more testing.
The need for pre-travel health screenings and waivers.
The requirement to wear masks on flights and in public spaces.
The continued social distancing rules.

Last week when our scheduled departure date came and went, my heart ached. I was reminded of one of my favorite scenes in the movie, Winged Migration, where a grandmotherly woman, wearing a scarf on her head, watches a flock of cranes in a field. As the birds take flight, she stands with her arms at her sides. However, her wrists flick involuntarily in a wing-like motion. It gets me every time. Like the old woman, I see the cranes carry my dreams on their wings. I want to fly with them. I want to go where they go. Northwest Navigation / David B Small Ship Cruises

So what if we will be able to salvage the latter part of this season — either with the schedule we have or a modified schedule? However it works, we’re plotting a course for the future by working on safety protocols so we may still operate with passengers, who are comfortable traveling during this time. That way, if there is a chance to safely get underway and do what we love to do, we’ll be ready.

So, what if…?

Stay safe. Stay well,

Christine