The state needs a new mainline ferry more than ever. The Alaska Marine Highway System is running out of operable ships, further driving away travelers. The scarcity of service makes it hard on locals and even harder on summer visitors, who find the skimpy schedule and undependable service a reason not to bring their RV or camper to Southeast.
The 50-year-old Columbia and 60-year-old Matanuska are about as shipshape as could be expected for their age, which is to say both are in regular need of medical attention and at constant risk of breakdowns.
The state Department of Transportation, which manages the Alaska Marine Highway System, and the public advisory board are well aware of the problem. They see service sinking ever further into disrepair and hope to tread water long enough to get new ferries built, particularly a mainline vessel to run between Southeast Alaska and Bellingham, Washington.
Thankfully, Alaska’s senior member of the congressional delegation, Lisa Murkowski, was able to convince her colleagues and the White House to include several hundred million dollars for the ferry system in the 2021 infrastructure funding law. But even with that gift, the state will need to churn up $100 million more in matching funds, at least, to complete all the work and restore better operations.
These next couple of years will be crucial to that effort to put the federal dollars to good use. That means designing a ship that works, unlike past ferries that never worked as intended to serve the communities.
Looking at the age of the fleet’s two largest ships, the state needs to steer quickly — but steer wisely.
— Wrangell Sentinel
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