Ferry sailing canceled last week due to crew shortage

The Alaska Marine Highway System has been advertising statewide since June in a concerted effort to recruit new crewmembers for the vessels, though help did not arrive in time when the LeConte had to cancel its northbound sailing out of Juneau on Aug. 11 due to a crew shortage.

The cancelation “stems from a system-wide crew shortage,” Sam Dapcevich, public information officer for the ferry system, told the Chilkat Valley News in Haines.

The one-day cancellation disrupted travel plans for 84 people who were traveling to Haines or Skagway, according to public radio reports.

The vessel resumed its normal schedule the next day, fully staffed with 24 crew.

On Aug. 11, two crew members reported feeling ill, and replacement workers were not available for the sailing.

“The ship’s captain evaluated the shortage and made a decision to cancel the sailing” due to an unsafe staffing level, Dapcevich told CoastAlaska public radio. The crew members did not have COVID-like symptoms and were not tested for the Coronavirus, the state said.

The ferry system — which is budgeted this year for about 500 full-time, part-time and temporary employees aboard the operating fleet of the LeConte, Matanuska, Kennicott, Aurora and Tustemena — had hired about 50 new employees as of last week. However, the new employees were waiting on U.S. Coast Guard certification or other paperwork to report for work, Dapcevich said.

Ferry employees this summer report they have been asked to stay on board for back-to-back assignments to help maintain adequate staffing levels.

“Given our overall fleet-wide crew shortage, we do see the possibility of more ‘no sailings’ or sailings being canceled due to this shortage,” Dapcevich told public radio. “But considering the high number of vacancies that we have, our employees are doing a great job keeping the system operating.”

Starting wage for a steward aboard the ships is $21.36 per hour for Alaska residents.

The state has reduced ferry service in recent years, with unions complaining that less work makes it harder to keep crew from leaving for other jobs. Though deck officers, engineers and other licensed crews have guaranteed hours, unlicensed crew members such as stewards, pursers and cooks often are laid off in the winter.

The Alaska Marine Highway System did not respond to requests for more information on staffing levels, vacancies and recruitment numbers.