Proposed winter ferry schedule continues service gaps

3 months ago

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The authorities has released its draft wintertime ferry schedule, which covers Oct. 1 done April 30, 2025. Residents mightiness find nan schedule familiar.

“It’s beautiful akin to past year’s wintertime schedule,” said Sam Dapcevich, spokesperson for nan authorities Department of Transportation. “We’re dealing pinch nan aforesaid fleet and nan aforesaid crewing situation.”

As successful caller years, location will beryllium 1 ferry serving nan main way done Southeast Alaska from Skagway to Bellingham, Wash. That intends astir communities will spot 1 ferry extremity going northbound and southbound each week. Sitka, however, will spot only 1 ferry going successful 1 guidance each week. Dapcevich said it mightiness beryllium northbound aliases southbound passim nan winter.

“There’s a small spot of variability there,” he said, “but it ever stops successful Sitka successful 1 guidance aliases nan other.”

The Kennicott will beryllium sailing done Southeast successful October and past the Columbia will tally November done April.

There will beryllium nary work for Prince William Sound, including Cordova and Valdez, from October done December erstwhile the Aurora is docked for maintenance. The Homer and Kodiak region will person nary ferry work from January done March. That’s erstwhile the 60-year-old Tustumena will beryllium getting yearly maintenance.

“When that vessel is successful its yearly overhaul, it’s inspected by nan Coast Guard aliases by nan American Bureau of Shipping,” Dapcevich said. “They spell complete that alloy pinch a good toothcomb. These vessels are very intimately looked at.”

The authorities plans to replace nan Tustumena in 2027 pinch a hybrid diesel-electric vessel that’s larger and faster. It’s expected to costs astatine slightest $300 million.

The Tustumena is conscionable 1 of nan state’s aged ferries. Four others are astir 50 years aliases older and their property intends much maintenance. The Matanuska has remained successful overhaul status for costly repairs since January of past year. Dapcevich said deciding whether to hole that alloy aliases immoderate of nan aging fleet isn’t easy.

“They’re reliable decisions,” he said. “Like, really galore much years do you get? The Matanuska is 60 years aged – if you plug $40 cardinal into it, will it beryllium a stopgap vessel? Will it support you going? Or are you going to proceed to conflict pinch different issues?”

For nan semipermanent outlook, Dapcevich said adjacent twelvemonth should spot a akin schedule. But nan ferry strategy will commencement adding unit quarters to nan Tazlina, which would bring different alloy to perchance capable work gaps to nan Southwest region successful 2027.

As for ferries connecting to Prince Rupert, B.C. like they utilized to, that work has stopped.

The nationalist tin nonstop in written comments by nan extremity of nan time connected Tuesday. DOT will beryllium holding 2 Zoom meetings connected Wednesday erstwhile nan nationalist tin besides comment. The gathering for nan Southeast region is astatine 10 a.m. and it’s astatine 1 p.m. for nan Prince William Sound and Southwest regions.

Comments whitethorn beryllium emailed to dot.amhs.comments@alaska.gov, aliases faxed to 907-228-6873.

Zoom virtual gathering for Southeast Alaska:
When: June 26, 2024 10:00 AM AKDT
Please click nan nexus beneath to subordinate nan webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89091551528
By phone: (253) 215-8782
Webinar ID: 890 9155 1528
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdIogA0i7f

Zoom virtual gathering for Southwest and Southcentral Alaska (PWS):
When: June 26, 2024 01:00 PM AKDT
Please click nan nexus beneath to subordinate nan webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84466431382
By phone: (253) 215-8782
Webinar ID: 844 6643 1382
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdIogA0i7f