Tag: Alaska Marine Highway System
Working for Transportation Solutions
In the news…
Our city Manager, Tim Dillon (also chairman of the Alaska Municipal League’s Transportation committee) was quoted in this article in the Homer News, regarding the Tusty’s, once again, delayed return to service for Seldovia.
Please click here or on the image to the left, to go directly to the Homer News and read the entire article about the Assembly meeting concerning coastal community transportation – serious issues that affect our waterfront/off-the-road-system communities.
Thanks Tim for speaking on our behalf and keeping Seldovia’s needs in the forefront of the minds of the state’s decision makers! Since being without the Tustumena since November of 2012, we have truly felt the negative impact of the lack of service to Seldovia. Thankfully, our dock is big enough, and port – deep enough to welcome the Kennicott, or we would have been completely without service like many other communities on the route.
News on the Tustumena
received by the City of Seldovia – September 9
Dear Elected Official,
Work on the Tustumena is continuing at Seward Ship’s Drydock. Replacement of undersize plate is proceeding, along with other welding, painting, insulating, and electrical work. The planned launch date is still September 20, with sea trials and other in-water work to take place the remainder of September and the beginning of October. AMHS is currently in the process of revising online schedules to reflect the Kennicott, in place of the Tustumena, operating in Southwest Alaska from October 1-15. Travelers with existing reservations will be rebooked in the next two days, and online booking of the Kennicott will be available soon after.
Additionally, the department is soliciting proposals from professional naval architect firms for the design of the Tustumena replacement vessel. We should have the design firm beginning preliminary design work later this year and look forward to working with the communities to help us develop the features that meet their needs.
Commissioner Patrick Kemp
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
Tusty Delayed Return Continues
Received by the City of Seldovia
Dear Elected Official,
Unfortunately, completion of the Tustumena refurbishment project has suffered another setback. On Friday ultrasonic thickness testing of repairs to the hull identified three areas where the improper thickness of steel plate was installed. Seward Ship and Drydock has the appropriate thickness plate in stock and replacement of the undersized material began over the weekend. This work will push back the launch date to approximately September 20. Based on this new information, the Tustumena will not be in service until mid-October and therefore the Kennicott will remain in southwest Alaska for the first part of October to provide service to Kodiak. The October schedule will be revised accordingly.
Commissioner Patrick Kemp
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Alaska Marine Highway – 50th Anniversary Documentary
by AMHS
50th Anniversary Documentary – Sunday, 8:00pm
“Alaska’s Marine Highway,” a special documentary highlighting our state ferry service, will air Sunday, March 31st at 8:00pm statewide on 360 North television and online at 360north.org.
From the challenges of always changing weather to the spectacular scenery and the lifeline the ferry provides to dozens of Alaska coastal communities, the documentary highlights it all. Check out the trailer and other clips. Be sure to tune in to this golden anniversary special.
Kennicott to Provide Aleutian Chain Service
Press Release Contact: Jeremy Woodrow, 907-465-8994, Jeremy.Woodrow@alaska.gov
(JUNEAU, Alaska) –The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) today announced that the M/V Kennicott will sail the Aleutian chain run this spring in relief of the M/V Tustumena.
The M/V Tustumena will be delayed resuming service due to additional necessary repairs discovered during its Federal Capital Improvement Project this winter. The ferry, which normally sails the “chain run,” was scheduled to begin service April 20. AMHS now estimates the vessel to begin service in June.
“It’s unfortunate that the Tustumena will be delayed providing service to the chain this spring,” said AMHS General Manager Captain John Falvey. “Our staff will do the best we can to accommodate affected travelers, communities and businesses.”
The M/V Kennicott, which normally sails between Bellingham, Wash. and Southcentral Alaska, will sail a modified spring schedule to accommodate affected travelers throughout the region. The new sailing schedule for the M/V Kennicott will include one Aleutian chain run in April and another in May. The ferry will also provide service to Kodiak to support the May crab festival. AMHS staff is in the process of rebooking passengers and an updated schedule will be available online within the week.
Due to the size of the M/V Kennicott, the ferry will not be able to sail in relief to Akutan, False Pass, Chignik, Ouzinkie, Old Harbor and Port Lions.
“The Tustumena is truly a unique vessel and no other ferry in the state is capable of serving all of the communities that it calls on,” said Captain Falvey. “Fortunately the Kennicott can provide some relief while we work to get the Tustumena back online as soon as possible
An updated schedule will be available online within the week at FerryAlaska.com where travelers may book their travel on the rerouted ferry. AMHS staff is contacting affected passengers; for more information, please call your local terminal or the AMHS central reservations office at 1-907-465-3941 or toll free at 1-800-642-0066.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 255 airports, 11 ferries serving 35 communities, 5,619 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Get Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”
Seldovia Time
