State ferry service to and from Skagway is on hold indefinitely due to structural damage at the Alaska Marine Highway System dock.

“Cracks were identified in the concrete abutment supporting the terminal’s vehicle transfer bridge and passenger walkway,” the state reported on Sunday, Aug. 16.

Two photos on the ferry system’s Facebook page show a large crack at the base of the dock structure.

“The cracking was first observed Thursday, Aug. 13. The facility was monitored while (state) engineers evaluated its condition. On Saturday, Aug. 15, engineers determined that the terminal should be closed to ferry operations due to further cracking occurring,” according to Sunday’s announcement.

The Hubbard safely completed its scheduled stop on Aug. 15 — and then the ferry ramp shut down.

“A reopening date has not been established, and the terminal will remain closed to ferry operations until the Department of Transportation determines that service can safely resume,” according to Sunday’s announcement.

“The safety of our passengers, crews, employees and contractors comes first,” said Marine Highway Director Craig Tornga. “We are moving quickly to secure the facility, determine the extent and cause of the damage and develop a safe repair plan. We recognize the disruption this creates for Skagway residents, businesses, visitors and ferry passengers, and we will provide updates as reliable information becomes available.”

The Department of Transportation reported Sunday that it was “mobilizing commercial divers to inspect the terminal’s underwater anchor system and determine whether any components have failed or sustained damage.”

It also was mobilizing a crane and barge to remove the vehicle bridge and passenger walkway from the damaged abutment.

“My understanding is that what’s happening is the float is being pulled to the west a lot,” Skagway Borough Manager Emily Deach told radio station KHNS. “And because of the state of the float, and how the vehicle ramp is attached, it’s putting pressure on the mechanisms that are holding the ramp in place.

“What they discovered was that those mechanisms were failing,” Deach said.

“AMHS terminal agents are actively reaching out to passengers with existing reservations to assist with refunds, alternative travel plans and rerouting options,” according to an announcement on the ferry system website.

The ferry schedule for Skagway for August shows the Hubbard making stops every day except Mondays as part of a dayboat circuit that includes Juneau and Haines.

Skagway also was scheduled for stops by the Columbia on Mondays at the northern end of the ship’s weekly Southeast Alaska voyage to and from Bellingham, Washington.

The municipality and the Department of Transportation have been working on engineering plans to replace the ferry dock, KHNS reported. They partnered on an application for a federal Port Infrastructure Development Program grant. They won’t hear until the fall if that application was successful.