Tag: Tustumena
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
Sparse Visits To Seldovia by AMHS in June
by Jenny Chissus
OK, this is looking rather bleak for Seldovia. Just last week, we were looking at the schedule, and it appeared as though the Tustumena would make the return to service for the month of June – coming into our community a total of 8 times, in addition to serving Seldovia 3 times by the Kennicott, including service to Seldovia on the 4th of July!
The latest news, confirmed by looking at the calendar on the AMHS website (see below) is very disheartening for Seldovians and folks looking to come into Seldovia for a visit or summer returning residents of our community. With only two “middle of the night” sailings into Seldovia for the whole month of June – it is essential that you plan accordingly! If you have a vehicle on the “wrong” side for your future plans – please be sure to make your reservations and plan ahead!
Rod Hilts is heading over to the town hall meeting in Homer tonight that is hosting Senator Peter Micciche sen.peter.micciche@akleg.gov and our Representative Paul Seaton rep.paul.seaton@akleg.gov to voice the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce’s concern with this lack of transportation service to our community for the month of June. With only three sailings in May – this has been a tough time for transportation this year to Seldovia.
In addition to moving the Chainsaw Carving Competition from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend (partly because of the lack of ferry service) we have two additional events this year that are going to be hard hit by this schedule change: The Summer Solstice Music Festival – since the beginning of the festival is always kicked off with a Jam Session on the Tusty in route to Seldovia on Thursday, and the 4th of July, as the Chamber has selected “Celebrating AMHS 50 years of service” and we won’t be seeing the AMHS in Seldovia for the 4th as was previously scheduled.
We are thankful for the great service of the Alaska Marine Highway to Seldovia – but we are hopeful that the “powers that be” can empathize with us regarding the negative impact on our community (and others) due to this serious lack of service for half of our summer season, and come up with some better alternatives with the Kennicott while the Tusty is in dry dock for repairs and maintenance.
Perhaps on the 14th and the 28th the Kennicott could stop into Seldovia on their way to Homer in the mornings? Then stop by again on the way out of Homer on her way to Kodiak on the 15th and 29th? That way, folks could schedule some turn around times… just a thought!
If you have any further comments or thoughts, great ideas, etc., please feel free to contact Kerri Traudt, the Vessel Schedule Coordinator for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
907-228-7253 telephone
907-228-1513 fax
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.”
Unscheduled Tusty Stop in Seldovia
by Jenny Chissus
The Tustumena has made an unscheduled stop in Seldovia this morning! After 4 lines broke free in Homer, due to high winds and rough seas, the MV Tustumena has retreated to the safety of our protected Seldovia Bay ferry dock. She arrived this morning around 9am and as it stands right now, she has plans to stay through until tomorrow morning.
I spoke with the City Manager Tim Dillon who stated that the Tusty is on its way to dry dock for the annual maintenance of the vessel. This is just a holding spot until it is safe to get underway again. The ship is down to its skeleton crew, so there is no chance of dining on the vessel while it is in port – that would have been great! Also, for those who have called to ask if they could get a ride back to Homer, that answer is “no” also, as the Tustumena will be going back to the shipyard. So, we say “adieu” to the Tusty until the 21st of April 2013! Next ship to come into our ferry terminal will be the Kennicott!
Seldovia Time
