Captain Dushan Crawford started working for Blue & Gold Fleet in 1994, straight out of high school. "I worked my way up," he said. "I started out as a photographer, then a ticket seller, became a deckhand, and in 2002 I officially got my captain’s license."
Captain Dushan Crawford enjoys the view from the wheelhouse of the Gemini during the Alameda/Oakland route of the San Francisco Bay Ferry service. Photo by Matt Larson
By Matt Larson
Published: May, 2012
Captain Dushan Crawford started working for Blue & Gold Fleet in 1994, straight out of high school. "I worked my way up," he said. "I started out as a photographer, then a ticket seller, became a deckhand, and in 2002 I officially got my captain’s license." He’ll be celebrating his 10th anniversary of that day this July.
Over the past decade, Crawford has put his license to good use. These days you can catch him at one of three helms: the Oakland/Alameda ferry route, Bay Cruises and RocketBoat. Each one has its own appeal—not just to the passengers, but to the captains as well. Crawford enjoys the ferry service, getting to know the commuters and tourists, and Bay Cruises offer lots of opportunity for seeing marine life. "We’ve had this huge pod of harbor porpoise that are frequently in the Bay," he said. "When I see those I let the tourists know; it brings another type of excitement to the tour."
RocketBoat is of a slightly different nature, and offers quite a rush. "Think of it as a hot rod on the water," said Crawford. "It holds about 110 passengers, you have a crew of three, does about 40 knots. I’ve gotten it as high as 42 knots with a good current—close to 60 mph, which is pretty good for a vessel of that size. It maneuvers like a jet ski; it’s a pretty awesome ride." According to Crawford, RocketBoat is certain fun. "I’m a big ol’ kid," he said. "It’s all about just being youthful and being a kid."
Crawford’s youthful spirit is now shared with his wife, Carla, and their two young children, Alina, 2, and Dushan Jr., 4, at their Oakley residence. "I love going to amusement parks," he said. "My dream job at one point was to be, believe it or not, a killer whale trainer at SeaWorld. It’s one of the places I visit pretty frequently." He’s also had a season pass to Six Flags in Vallejo every year since at least 2000. "So long as Shouka’s there, and Merlin the dolphin, even the train ride, we’ll be there every year. The kids love it. They definitely keep daddy young at heart."
When he’s not rolling on coasters or cruising the waterways, Crawford has been doing some commercial acting and print modeling work. "It’s a little side hobby," he said. "I’ve been featured on Robert Mondavi’s wine website and fujitsudailyfuel.com, among other things." Perhaps it’s one of the benefits of having some weekdays available, as Crawford tends to work the ferryboats toward the end of the week. "I actually prefer to be on the weekend service," he said. "I’m usually down there interacting, meeting new people and helping the crew load up. It’s fun for me."
One of Crawford’s favorite aspects of the job is being indoors and outdoors at somewhat the same time. "I’m indoors, but I’m out on the water," he said. "There’s just so much to see. One time I was on the Tiburon service and right off Alcatraz Island I saw a sea otter, which was very unusual. I regret not having my camera."
"It’s a slice of heaven," said Crawford of riding the ferry. "It’s a good way to commute. The quality of life keeps a lot of stress off of you, especially compared to sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, worrying about accidents." And there’s no traffic jams to plan for either. Plus, "the ferry service is pretty dependable," he said. "We’re out in daylight, nighttime, fog—we’re going to get you to where you need to go."
Crawford is happy to be one of the captains assisting your commute, and realizes what a special opportunity it is to do so. "There aren’t too many jobs out there like this," he said. "It definitely makes you feel good inside. I love being out there, and it brings a smile to my face every day."
