Technical trouble with the state ferry system has put a crimp on interisland travel recently.
The M/V Columbia – one of two vessels making the north-south run each week in Southeast Alaska – had a longer than expected stop into Bellingham, Washington after arriving June 29. Crew members discovered black smoke in the ship's bow thruster room, prompting use of a fixed carbon dioxide fire fighting system and evacuation of the vessel.
No fire had been evident, and all passengers aboard were reportedly fine.
As for the Columbia, Alaska Marine Highway System identified the 45-year-old vessel's exhaust system as the source of the smoke, with a rebuild necessary. The ship has subsequently been taken out of two weeks' rotation while work goes on in Bellingham. It is expected to resume service this week, arriving in Wrangell on its northward leg on Sunday.
Expectant passengers were contacted about the disruption to service, receiving either refunded fares or the opportunity to reschedule sailings. Public information officer Aurah Landau estimated the first of those two lost weeks had been just about fully booked at the time, with the present week two-thirds of the way reserved. The Columbia has a passenger capacity of 499, according to its AMHS vessel profile.
The second of the two primary ferries operating in Southeast this summer, the M/V Malaspina has continued its weekly service, though minor repairs have also compelled AMHS to adjust its schedule. It has also seen some major issues this year, with its scheduled overhaul taking an additional month before its return to service in late April.
The ferry system's woes come at an inopportune time, falling over the extended July 4 weekend. Summertime is when the service sees its highest share of ridership, with traffic in Southeast making up around three quarters of the system's total volume.
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