One of Southeast’s primary ferries will be out of service longer than expected as it undergoes annual maintenance, affecting the winter schedule.
The Alaska Marine Highway System announced last week the M/V Malaspina will be out of commission several months longer than expected. The vessel went in for its annual overhaul and certification on October 1, with the intention of returning it to service on December 22.
During the overhaul engineers determined an extensive replacement of the craft’s steel was needed, and that both its propeller hubs require repair. But due to limited shipyard space, the propeller work will take several months to complete, pushing Malaspina’s scheduled return back to later in the spring.
The ferry ordinarily connects communities in Southeast Alaska with Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and is one of two weekly ferries making stops into Wrangell through most of its winter service. During its absence from December 22 until February 23, 2018, Malaspina’s route will be covered by the Columbia and LeConte. Most communities will receive winter ferry service once a week during this time, while service to Prince Rupert has been canceled in the meantime.
Full service will resume after February 23, with the Kennicott taking over the Malaspina’s route. At that time service to Prince Rupert will recommence. Kennicott recently had maintenance troubles of its own, entering dry dock for a brief period earlier this month to address a leaky seal on its propeller. Since resuming its service, along with Columbia it is one of the two ferries servicing Wrangell through December 22.
In a statement included in the announcement, AMHS general manager Captain John Falvey was apologetic. “We know this is a big impact to communities who rely on ferries for passenger travel and cargo shipments. We rescheduled service to maximize port calls with available vessels and to offer communities full service for spring events like Gold Medal,” he said, referring to the regional basketball tournament. “We’re disappointed and trying to make the best of it for passengers.”
Those affected by the reshuffle are already being notified by the ferry service. For an updated schedule, consult the AMHS website at http://www.FerryAlaska.com. Service notices can be obtained either online at dot.alaska.gov/amhs/service_notices.shtml, or by calling the local terminal at 907-465-3941.
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