The Hubbard ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau on June 26 for a christening ceremony. The 280-foot-long vessel, with room for 300 passengers and 53 standard-length vehicles, officially was put into service in Southeast Alaska in May. But officials said Friday it may be taken out of service next week due to an employee shortage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hubbard may be taken out of service as AMHS employee, vessel woes continue

Newest ferry offering day service between Juneau, Skagway and Haines also suffering “growing pains.”

An ongoing employee shortage may force the Hubbard ferry to halt its day service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway next week, part of a more widespread series of problems involving staffing and the condition of vessels, top officials with the Alaska Marine Highway System said Friday.

The Hubbard, christened as the ferry system’s newest vessel last month after being put into service in May, is still suffering operational “growing pains,” Keith Hillard, a captain aboard the ship as it was departing Haines, told the AMHS operations board via Zoom during its meeting Friday afternoon.

“There are definitely some safety things that need to be addressed in the next yard period,” he said.

Furthermore, Hillard said the ferry system as a whole “still has some serious payroll issues going on, which is hampering our ability to recruit and keep people.” That poses an even more short-term risk to the Hubbard’s operations.

“We’re at risk of shutting the Hubbard down this next week because we can’t get another licensed engineer onboard,” Craig Tornga, the ferry system’s director, told the operations board.

[Hubbard christened as Alaska’s newest ferry]

The 280-foot-long Hubbard has experienced turbulent waters since it was first envisioned as a shuttle ferry in northern Lynn Canal in 2006. Initial construction was completed in 2018, but it remained out of service for more than four years until crew quarters were added to meet employee working hours requirements.

But 60% of the ferry system’s jobs were vacant in May, higher than any other state agency, and Tornga told the operations board the current shortages are in licensed positions such as people working in the wheelhouse and engine room. Entry-level positions are fully staffed, he said.

A key reason for the shortage — beyond the wider issues affecting employers in Alaska and elsewhere — is the ferry system’s payroll system is faulty, Tornga said.

“Crews members not getting paid or not getting paid properly,” he said. “We’ve lost employees due to payroll issues.”

The state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is trying to remedy the problem by setting up payments through the department’s system, and “we can’t have it soon enough” because union representatives with the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association are telling members not to accept jobs at AMHS, Tornga said.

Southeast Alaska ferry service has already suffered one significant disruption this summer when the Columbia was taken out of service for a week at the end of June for repairs, affecting a round-trip loop extending from Skagway to Bellingham, Washington. That vessel has two more maintenance periods scheduled during the next week, although Tornga said both are expected to take hours and not disrupt service.

However, “every week it seems like something else on there we’re repairing,” he said.

Currently six of the ferry system’s nine vessels are operating — and that’s only possible because crews are working beyond their scheduled shifts, Tornga said. Two ships are getting mechanical service and the Kennicott — which AMHS officials said might be used to replace the Columbia if that vessel is out of service for an extended period — is currently idle due to a lack of staff.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.

More in News

(Juneau Empire File)
Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 27

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival in early May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Survey: Residents increasingly negative about cruise tourism, but postive opinions still prevail

48% of respondents say overall impacts positive, 22% negative after record-high passenger season.

A Hawaiian Airlines plane taxis for position at Kahalui, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, March 24, 2005. Alaska Air Group said Sunday that it agreed to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1 billion deal. (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni, File)
Alaska Air to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal that may attract regulator scrutiny

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines said Sunday it agreed to buy Hawaiian Airlines… Continue reading

Cruise ship passengers walk around in downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Public suggestions for spending cruise ship passenger fees being accepted starting Monday

More than $21.6M available after record season, but proposals limited to cruise-related projects.

The Hubbard state ferry (left), the newest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet, is back in service in northern Southeast Alaska after a maintenance period as the LeConte, which also serves the region, undergoes a scheduled annual overhaul until March 3. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Marine Highway System)
AMHS leaders hopeful staffing, sailings are trending up

More employees at key positions hired, restoration of cross-Gulf sailings next summer envisioned.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A ConocoPhillips oil rig operating during winter on Alaska’s North Slope is featured on the cover of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s report recommending approval of the Willow oil project. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
Judge rejects calls to halt winter construction work on Willow oil project in Alaska during appeal

A federal judge in Alaska on Friday rejected requests from environmental groups… Continue reading

Strips of chum salmon hang on a drying rack on Aug. 22, 2007. A new study by federal and state biologists identies marine heat waves in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska as the likely culprit in the recent crashes of Western Alaska chum salmon runs. (Photo by S.Zuray / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Study points to concurrent marine heat waves as culprit in Western Alaska chum declines

Successive marine heat waves appear to have doomed much of the chum… Continue reading

Marzena Whitmore (elf) and Dale Hudson (Santa), pose for a photo with Benny Orvin (partially obscured), 6, and his siblings Lilly, 4, and Remi, 2, taken by their mother Alex as their father Randy watches during Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Coming together as one giant community family at Gallery Walk

Thousands share an evening of entertainment in the outdoor chill, visiting shops and hot chocolate.

Most Read