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Ferry system head Dennis Hardy announced his resignation Wednesday, citing personal reasons.

Hardy served as deputy commissioner of marine operations for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities since last April, when he was appointed to the position by Commissioner Leo von Scheben.

The deputy commissioner oversees the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Hardy said his reasons for leaving had nothing to do with complaints from system critics and were entirely his own.

"I have some personal matters to deal with," he said.

Von Scheben told legislators that Hardy's departure was for "none other than personal reasons."

Among Hardy's critics was Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau.

On Wednesday, Elton praised Hardy but said his departure would give the ferry system a chance for a new start.

"I think he's smart. He's a good person who wants to do well, but was just put in the wrong job," Elton said.

Hardy had little sea-going experience when he was appointed, though he had ridden a state ferry when he moved to Alaska years earlier. He was previously a civil engineer working in Anchorage.

Hardy said ferry staff did such a good job that the lack of marine experience wasn't a problem.

"I know that was a concern of people, and I did have a coming-up-to-speed curve," he said.

The system is operated on a day-to-day basis by Capt. John Falvey, the system's general manager, who Hardy said "did a great job of helping me through that learning curve."

Hardy recently made a controversial decision to cut the summer ferry service to Bellingham, Wash., the system's southern terminus, in half, from two vessels per week to once a week. That decision was criticized in some quarters, but resulted in increased service in Lynn Canal, where it was praised.

Juneau's Cathie Roemmich, who chairs the Marine Transportation Advisory Committee, said she was disappointed to see Hardy go. She said it was not Hardy's fault the schedules were late, and he worked hard to meet publication deadlines.

She also praised the schedule Hardy was responsible for.

"It's one of the better schedules we've ever had with what we've had to work with," she said.