Columbia might come back for summer 2022 ferry service

The Alaska Marine Highway System has put out its summer 2022 draft schedule for public comment, with two potentially big changes from this year: The possible return to service of the Columbia, the largest ship in the fleet, and the possible return to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, after a two-year absence from the port.

If the Columbia returns, it would give the state ferry system two sailings a week out of Bellingham, Washington, to Southeast Alaska ports.

With the Columbia, Wrangell could get two northbound and two southbound ferry calls a week, double its level of service with only the Ma...