Just a few years after the half-century mark of the state it serves, Alaska’s Marine Highway System hits the big five-o.
The marine highway system has gone through a number of changes since it first went into operation with the M/V Malaspina in 1963, Jeremy Woodrow, spokesperson for AMHS, said in an email interview. Serving areas beyond Southeast communities was an early step. The vessels now visit the ports of 33 Alaskan communities in Prince William Sound, Southcentral Alaska, Kodiak and along the Aleutian Chain. And AMHS makes regular runs to Bellingham, Wash. and Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
The ferry system has also grown beyond its original vessel; AMHS now sails 11 vessels in its fleet, including three built in the last decade - the open-deck Lituya and the controversial fast ferries Chenega and Fairweather. The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities plans to add one or two more ferries to the system over the next few years.
“AMHS is always striving to provide a reliable level of service and looking toward improving service for travelers to and within Alaska,” Woodrow said. “This will be carried forward as the system moves into another decade of service, with the expectations of many more to follow.”
AMHS plans to celebrate its milestone as host to community events and contests, and to share its history online through photos, maps and stories throughout 2013. A special 50th anniversary web page will receive regular updates also.
As part of the celebrations, passengers can sign up to win anniversary golden tickets worth up to $500 in travel. A winner will be drawn monthly.
To find out more and to sign up for a chance to win an AMHS golden ticket visit www.ferryalaska.com/50years . Those interested can also find announcements and share their Alaska marine highway stories on Facebook at facebook.com/AlaskaMarineHighway .
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (9)
Add commentGolden Ticket....
What's this golden thing; will it get me a trip to Skagway when I want to go? Doubtful...Build the road!!
Happy Birthday !!
Ahhhhhh yes.....I remember it well: that long ride to AK and on up to Skagway of the first grand lady of the fleet. For those who don't know it was the foresight of Bill Egan and a couple others that brought our system into being, despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth and rending of garments and stomping and fuming of a small group of naysayers.
It is hard to imagine where SE AK would be today were it not for the fleet, which brought people and commuities together like nothing else-not even the much loved/hated Alaska Coastal fleet of Gooses and PBY's.
Modern arrivals may think the system quaint and out-dated, and it some respects it might be. But don't whine and snivel too much because you do not understand what things were llike before the Malaspina made her way up the inside passage.
And yes-the road would be nice. But don't do away with the ferry system.
Happy Bithday indeed
The key to the beginning was the work that was done to get the Federal Government to recognize the ferry system as a "road system" and allow Federal Highway funds to be used for construction.. I don't think the Anchorage/Fairbanks crowd was that pleased to see this diversion of funds, so there was a lot of political courage involved which was certainly Governor Egan's long suit..
The ships I would love to see again are the princess ships..they used to let us kids go aboard when they were in town, sit at the bar and have a 7up..or the SS ships..the Baranof is the one I remember most cuz that's the one I came to Juneau on in the first place. I can still see the freight coming off those ships in the net on a rainy day at the dock.
Yes, but.....
What they haven't told the general public yet, that the Chenega and Fairweather each have so many engine problems that both may be docked for the summer, so don't rely on making reservations around those ships this summer!
Those fast ferries..
sure look fast when they're tied to the dock.
The best way to honor the Marine Highway's history
is to build new full mainliners to replace ALL the mainliners that will go off-line due to old age in the next few years.
We can easily get federal assistance to do that, and it's worth it to preserve the jobs on the system and the economic assets the system provides to all the towns of the region.
It's also worth it to prevent the villages from being cut off from regular transit(something that would be close to cultural genocide, btw)and to preserve the character of the region.
Keep AMHS floating, keep Southeast alive and vital.
Roads can't do any of that...neither can the ridiculous proposals to make people ride shuttle ferries for fifty miles then drive for fifty miles to the next stop(a proposal that will massively reduce summer visitors to many parts of Southeast).
AMHS is the backbone of this region-without it(or with drastically less of it)we're probably done for. .
.....and expensive,too.
.....and expensive,too.
Happy Birthday AMHS!
Congratulations AMHS! If I was still with you I'd bring in a cake. Thanks to all the wonderful employees who are friendly, kind, thoughtful, and helpful getting people from place to place. Thanks also for our riders of the blue "Canoes" for their patience and understanding when something "out of our control" happens, and you are re-routed.
A special thanks for those dedicated employees who man the phones, sight unseen, in their little cubicles with little acknowledgement or praise.