Sometimes you never know what to expect onboard a ship. Recently, a routine ferry trip took a surprising turn when a woman gave birth aboard the Samish ferry in Washington. The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. as the ferry was preparing to depart from Lopez Island enroute to Anacortes.
Tom Tripp, a passenger on the ferry, recalled that the vessel came to a sudden stop, followed by an announcement asking if anyone with medical training could assist with an emergency. At the time, it wasn’t known why help was needed, but it soon became crystal clear that a woman was in labor.
Baby Arlo. Photo courtesy of the family
Passengers and crew quickly responded, working together to assist the woman until emergency medical services could arrive. Capt. Noah Landau made sure the ferry docked so an ambulance could meet the ship.
I could tell something was wrong, and so we weren’t going to leave until we figured it out,” the captain said.
“In my experience, almost always people come forth, doctors, nurses, EMTs come forth,” Landau said. “The crew, they just knew without being told to start moving cars around to make a space for the ambulance to back down,” he added.
However, the ambulance wouldn’t arrive in time. The little baby made his arrival just before help arrived. But before rescue crews arrived, the baby—this baby—had already been born. Arlo Trae Mack, seven pounds one ounce, was born aboard a Washington ferry.
Justin and his five-year-old daughter hold newborn baby, Arlo. Photo courtesy of the family
And for Landau, this wasn’t a new experience. He had been captain of a prior ship where a baby had been born. And now, he had a second chance to make a special announcement.
After about an hour, Landau informed passengers of the successful birth. “Well, we have an update for you, and … it’s a baby boy!” was the message shared over the PA system. The news was met with cheers and applause from those on board.
The newborn, named Arlo, weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was healthy, as were his parents, Candice and Justin. Washington State Ferries shared a photo of the baby on social media, confirming that both the mother and child were doing well.
Reflecting on the experience, Tripp noted that any frustration over the delay went away as soon as they heard about the baby. “Not only was it not bad news, but exceptionally good news,” he said. Coincidentally, Tripp and his partner, Lisa, had been headed to Seattle to visit their new granddaughter. “New baby stuff everywhere I go now, I guess, ” Tripp said, laughing.
