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The ferry Tustumena is seen July 20, 2021, in southwestern Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks)

News

After a false start, Alaska prepares to solicit bids for new mainline ferry

DOT expects to issue new request for proposals from U.S. shipyards next month to replace Tustumena.

Workers load cars aboard the Columbia ferry during a stop in mid-July. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire File)

News

State ferry board pushes for measures to boost hiring

Motion calls on Dunleavy and Legislature to grant marine director more power.

This photo of the bar on the Columbia ferry was taken in July. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

News

Columbia bar soon to be back online after minor fire

11 people, two of them crew, were treated in Wrangell and returned to the ship

The Hubbard state ferry remains in dock at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Friday after suffering generator problems that are expected to keep the ship out of service until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Hubbard likely out of service until Monday due to generator problems

Newest state ferry suffers failure after carrying Buttigieg from Juneau to Haines.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, listen to Thomas Turner, chief mate of the ferry Hubbard, explain the operations of the vessel on Wednesday in Lynn Canal. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

What Buttigieg saw and discussed beyond Juneau in Southeast Alaska

U.S. transportation secretary meets with tribal and other leaders about ferry, other issues.

A trio of state ferries are docked as the Columbia arrives at the Alaska Marine Highway System headquarters in Ketchikan on July 16. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire File)

News

Winter ferry schedule is out and it’s better than before

13-day gap in mainline service in December, but more consistent service to smaller Southeast towns

Three Alaska Marine Highway System ferries are docked at its headquarters in Ketchikan as the Columbia arrives on July 16. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: Alaska Marine Highway steers fleet toward three replacements

Part two of a two-part series about the tricky navigation facing the Alaska Marine Highway System.

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

News

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

Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire Members of the deck department of the Columbia state ferry get ready to dock the vessel in Petersburg on July 17. A change in the accounting department is expected to lessen the number of payroll complaints among Alaska Marine Highway System employees.

News

A fix is in for ferry payroll issues

The change addresses longstanding issues with AMHS employees getting paid late or the wrong amounts.

Capt. Dave Turner, who has been with the Alaska Marine Highway System for 14 years, scans some of the equipment on the Columbia. He makes a point of being approachable by crew, but said in the end, “it’s my license.” (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: Meet some of the crew on the Columbia

Five people who do everything from cleaning to commanding the nearly 50-year-old state vessel

Chad Goeden, seen here on board the Columbia in mid-July, is one of two retired Alaska State Troopers participating in a new program that serves as deterrent while also strengthening security on the Alaska Marine Highway System. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: New program puts retired, certified troopers on some ferries

DPS and DOT team up on proactive effort to add security to AMHS.

The Hubbard ferry departs the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal for its inaugural voyage through northern Lynn Canal on May 23. (Courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

News

Hubbard will remain in service as staff and repair issues are addressed

Newest AMHS ferry “unequivocally” safe, despite inspection deficiencies, DOT official says.

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)

News

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.”

The Hubbard and LeConte ferries are seen at a Southeast Alaska port in this picture published June 1. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Marine Highway System)

News

State ferry system says it is unable to provide hiring numbers

Alaska Marine Highway has been short of onboard employees for more than two years.

Author standing at the Sitka terminal ramp May 22 waiting to board the Columbia to Haines. (Photo courtesy of Regina Discenza)

Opinion

My Turn: My costly experience with the Alaska Marine Highway System

Last year during the summer of 2022 I wanted to visit a few small towns in Alaska with…

The Tazlina berths at the Auke Bay Terminal in March. The Alaska Marine Highway System’s proposed winter schedule is now available for public review, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Winter ferry schedule now open for review

Public comments are being accepted through July 12.

A lifeboat on the deck of the Columbia ferry in May. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Marine Highway System)

News

Columbia ferry set to resume service Wednesday

Week of canceled sailings for repairs means longer vehicle wait lists, officials say.

First Lady Rose Dunleavy (left) breaks a bottle across the bow of the Hubbard ferry during a christening ceremony Monday at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau, as vessel relief captain Ethan Waldvogel watches. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Hubbard christened as Alaska’s newest ferry

After years of delays, vessel now making day trips to Juneau, Haines and Skagway

The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. (Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF)

News

Columbia cancels sailings for at least a week due to repairs

Mechanical issue on aging ferry affects stops between Haines and Bellingham

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The Tazlina docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal Thursday afternoon.

News

DOT: Staffing shortages mean fewer ferries this summer

Service may improve if more crew becomes available, officials say