Alaska Marine Highway

The MV Tazlina is docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal in this Nov. 15, 2021, photo. The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry is expected to provide service from early January through February, according to the Alaska Department of Public Transportation and Public Facilities. Updates on some aspects of winter operations from October until next April were provided by top ferry and state transportation officials during an Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board meeting Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Chilly reception for proposed winter ferry schedule

Fears about no or little service for critical needs expressed from Southeast to Southwest Alaska

The MV Tazlina is docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal in this Nov. 15, 2021, photo. The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry is expected to provide service from early January through February, according to the Alaska Department of Public Transportation and Public Facilities. Updates on some aspects of winter operations from October until next April were provided by top ferry and state transportation officials during an Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board meeting Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
The MV Tustumena sails into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia in 2010. (Homer News File Photo)

Tustumena sailings canceled due to crew shortage

Schedule anticipated to resume on Aug. 27

The MV Tustumena sails into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia in 2010. (Homer News File Photo)
This October 2020 photo shows the MV Kennicott. The Alaska Marine Highway System's winter ferry schedule is now available for review. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Winter ferry schedule available for review

Comments now being accepted.

This October 2020 photo shows the MV Kennicott. The Alaska Marine Highway System's winter ferry schedule is now available for review. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Ryan Anderson, right, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, discusses his experiences during his 22 years at the department before his presentation during the weekly Juneau Chamber of Commerce lunch at The Moose Lodge. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Changing course on ferry plans

Federal funds, COVID-19 issues means improvements rather than privatization, commissioner says.

Ryan Anderson, right, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, discusses his experiences during his 22 years at the department before his presentation during the weekly Juneau Chamber of Commerce lunch at The Moose Lodge. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This 2018 photo shows the M/V Malaspina 2018. (Courtesy Photo / Frank P. Flavin)

Ferry retiring to Ketchikan

Malaspina to be sold to LLC; planned to be centerpiece of a historic park.

This 2018 photo shows the M/V Malaspina 2018. (Courtesy Photo / Frank P. Flavin)
Goldbelt Transportation and Allen Marine Tours will contract with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to provide ferry service through the Southeast for the remainder of the winter, according to a news release. (Courtesy photo / Goldbelt Transportation)

Goldbelt, Allen Marine pick up winter ferry contracts

Contracts were signed this January for several winter runs to Southeast communities.

Goldbelt Transportation and Allen Marine Tours will contract with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to provide ferry service through the Southeast for the remainder of the winter, according to a news release. (Courtesy photo / Goldbelt Transportation)
This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Matanuska delayed as repair work continues

Jan. 24 sailing to Bellingham canceled.

This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Infrastructure bill will boost ferries, but winter service still sparse

New funds, old problems.

This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)

State begins process of replacing ferry Tustumena

The state also has other plans for updating the marine highway.

This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)
The Tazlina was docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. It is one of 10 vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet. Alaska’s Congressional delegation has said a recently passed infrastructure bill will bring money to the state’s ferries, but until then some communities are still seeing gaps in service over the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Gaps in ferry service remains as new board takes shape

Infstructure bill bonus.

The Tazlina was docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. It is one of 10 vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet. Alaska’s Congressional delegation has said a recently passed infrastructure bill will bring money to the state’s ferries, but until then some communities are still seeing gaps in service over the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This 2011 photo shows the Taku and Malaspina ferries at the Auke Bay Terminal. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Costs add up as ferry idled nearly 2 years

The cost to the state for docking an Alaska ferry that has been idled for nearly two years is close to $900,000 a year, with… Continue reading

This 2011 photo shows the Taku and Malaspina ferries at the Auke Bay Terminal. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This October 2020 photo shows the MV Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Transportation department seeks review of proposed summer ferry schedule

Teleconferences are scheduled for early September.

This October 2020 photo shows the MV Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries LeConte, left, Malaspina and Tazlina, hidden from view, are tied up at the Auke Bay Terminal in this July 2019 photo. CoastAlaska reports Gov. Mike Dunleavy offered to give the Malaspina ferry away in a letter last month to the Philippines consul general in San Francisco. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska offers 58-year-old ferry for free to the Philippines

The state of Alaska is trying to dispose of a 58-year-old ferry.

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries LeConte, left, Malaspina and Tazlina, hidden from view, are tied up at the Auke Bay Terminal in this July 2019 photo. CoastAlaska reports Gov. Mike Dunleavy offered to give the Malaspina ferry away in a letter last month to the Philippines consul general in San Francisco. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bill to create new AMHS board heads to governor

It’s been a years-long effort.

The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This float marked Taku, which washed up in Olympia, Washington, at first was thought to belong to the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry MV Taku. But its source is still unknown. (Courtesy photo / Karla Patten)

Unidentified floating object: Float’s origin sails into mystery

Despite supposition, float not from famed AHMS ferry.

This float marked Taku, which washed up in Olympia, Washington, at first was thought to belong to the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry MV Taku. But its source is still unknown. (Courtesy photo / Karla Patten)
In this Empire file photo, an Alaska Marine Highway ferry is docked at the Auke Bay terminal in Juneau. A bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would create a new governing board, hopefully bringing stability to the ailing system. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

House passes bill to create new ferry board

A more stable ferry system.

In this Empire file photo, an Alaska Marine Highway ferry is docked at the Auke Bay terminal in Juneau. A bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would create a new governing board, hopefully bringing stability to the ailing system. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

2 Matanuska crewmembers test positive for COVID

No close contacts with passengers identified.

This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee.

Bill that would reshape AMHS leadership moves forward

Ideological divide over the word ‘highway.’

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee.
The Alaska State Marine Highway Ferry Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in June, 2014.

State’s fast ferries sold for over $5M

They’ll be headed to Spain soon.

The Alaska State Marine Highway Ferry Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in June, 2014.
A bill from Gov. Mike Dunleavy would rework the Marine Transportation Advisory Board to help the Alaska Marine Highway System with long-term planning to provide better service for passengers like the ones seen here at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Governor’s new bill would change long-term planning for state’s ferry system

In it for the long haul?

A bill from Gov. Mike Dunleavy would rework the Marine Transportation Advisory Board to help the Alaska Marine Highway System with long-term planning to provide better service for passengers like the ones seen here at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)