Alaska Marine Highway System vessels in dock at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

Alaska Marine Highway System vessels in dock at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

Fixing the ferry’s future: Meet the nine ships in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet

Three are currently out of service due to repairs and crew shortages

Here is a look at each of the nine ships in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet, along with the summer schedule. The fleet is divided into mainline ferries and day boat/shuttle ferries.

Two of the ferries, both mainliners, Matanuska and Kennicott, are sidelined for repairs. The Tazlina, a shuttle ferry, is dockside due to the crew shortage.

[Also in this series: AMHS steers fleet toward three replacements | The cost of maintaining an aging ferry fleet | A fix is in for ferry payroll issues

[Part 1: Help wanted on the Alaska Marine Highway | Meet some of tbe crew on the Columbia | New program puts retired troopers aboard]

The MV Columbia. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Columbia. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Columbia

Schedule: Currently providing service from Bellingham to the communities of Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Kake, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway.

Year built: 1974

Normal crew capacity: 63

Length: 418

Width: 85

Domestic gross tons: 3,946

Passengers: 499

Linear feet: 2,660 linear feet

Fuel: 397 gallons/hour

Total staterooms/berths: 104/298

The MV Kennicott. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Kennicott. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Kennicott

Schedule: Currently in layup/ repairs for vehicle lift system, accommodation ladders and exhaust system.

Year built: 1998

Normal crew capacity: 55

Length: 382

Width: 85

Domestic gross tons: 9,978

Passengers: 499

Linear feet: 1,560 linear feet for operation in Southeast Alaska and 1,340 linear feet in Southwest Alaska. (Varies based on need for the ramp, which limits use of the elevator.)

Fuel: 354 gallons/hour

Total staterooms/berths: 109/320

The MV Matanuska. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Matanuska. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Matanuska

Schedule: Currently in layup/ repairs

Year built: 1963

Normal crew capacity: 48

Length: 408

Width: 74

Domestic gross tons: 3,029

Passengers: 450

Linear feet: 1,675

Fuel: 234 gallons/hour

Total staterooms/berths: 106/243

The MV Tustumena. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Tustumena. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Tustumena

Schedule: Currently providing service to the communities of Homer, Seldovia, Kodiak, Port Lions and Ouzinkie.

Year built: 1964

Normal crew capacity: 38

Length: 296

Width: 59

Domestic gross tons: 2,174

Passengers: 160

Linear feet: 680

Fuel: 151 gallons/hour

Total staterooms/berths: 24/60

Day boat/shuttle ferries

The MV Aurora. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Aurora. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Aurora

Schedule: Currently providing service to the communities of Whittier, Cordova, Valdez, Tatitlek and Chenega Bay in Prince William Sound.

Year built: 1977

Normal crew capacity: 24

Length: 235

Width: 57

Domestic gross tons: 1,280

Passengers: 250

Linear feet: 660

Fuel: 190 gallons/hour

The MV LeConte. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV LeConte. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV LeConte

Schedule: Currently providing service to the communities of North Lynn Canal including Juneau, Haines, Skagway, Hoonah, Tenakee, Gustavus and Angoon

Year built: 1974

Normal crew capacity: 24

Length: 235

Width: 57

Domestic gross tons: 1,328

Passengers: 225

Linear feet: 660

Fuel: 188 gallons/hour

The MV Hubbard. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Hubbard. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Hubbard

Schedule: Currently providing service to Juneau, Haines and Skagway.

Year built: 2019/entered service 2023

Normal crew capacity: 14

Length: 280

Width: 67

Domestic gross tons:

Passengers: 300

Linear feet: 850 (53 standard vehicles)

Fuel: 250 gallons/hour

The MV Tazlina. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Tazlina. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Tazlina

Schedule: Vessel is currently dockside at vigor in Ketchikan due to a crew shortage.

Year built: 2019

Normal crew capacity: 14

Length: 280

Width: 67

Domestic gross tons: 3,217

Passengers: 280

Linear feet: 850

Fuel: 250 gallons/hour

The MV Lituya. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

The MV Lituya. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

MV Lituya

Schedule: Provides service between Ketchikan and Annette Bay.

Year built: 2004

Normal crew capacity: 5

Length: 181

Width: 50

Domestic gross tons: 97

Passengers: 125

Linear feet: 300

Fuel: 55 gallons/hour

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