Matanuska return to service delayed by repairs

Repairs to one of Southeast’s primary public ferries will take longer than anticipated.

Alaska Marine Highway System reported the M/V Matanuska may not return to service until February 20, 10 days later than initially expected. Taken offline on January 3, the ship is currently in Ketchikan for its annual maintenance overhaul.

“During that process they found some steel that needs to be replaced before it can return,” explained Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesperson Meadow Bailey.

The delay has affected scheduling for some passengers, necessitating reroutes and other accommodations on the part of ADOTPF.

Launched in 1963, Matanuska is one of the state ferry system’s first vessels, and one of two mainline ferries that can currently connect with Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Its sister vessel, M/V Malaspina, continues to connect Southeast to Bellingham, Washington.

Launched the same year, their smaller sister ship the Taku was decommissioned in 2015, and is currently awaiting sale. State and municipal governments have the opportunity to put in a bid for the vessel until February 21. If none are received, the process then would go out to the wider public. An asking price has not been attached to the sale.