Alaska Marine Highway

This 2011 photo shows the Taku and Malaspina ferries at the Auke Bay Terminal. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Costs add up as ferry idled nearly 2 years

The cost to the state for docking an Alaska ferry that has been idled for nearly two years is close to $900,000 a year, with… Continue reading

This 2011 photo shows the Taku and Malaspina ferries at the Auke Bay Terminal. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This October 2020 photo shows the MV Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Transportation department seeks review of proposed summer ferry schedule

Teleconferences are scheduled for early September.

This October 2020 photo shows the MV Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries LeConte, left, Malaspina and Tazlina, hidden from view, are tied up at the Auke Bay Terminal in this July 2019 photo. CoastAlaska reports Gov. Mike Dunleavy offered to give the Malaspina ferry away in a letter last month to the Philippines consul general in San Francisco. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska offers 58-year-old ferry for free to the Philippines

The state of Alaska is trying to dispose of a 58-year-old ferry.

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries LeConte, left, Malaspina and Tazlina, hidden from view, are tied up at the Auke Bay Terminal in this July 2019 photo. CoastAlaska reports Gov. Mike Dunleavy offered to give the Malaspina ferry away in a letter last month to the Philippines consul general in San Francisco. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bill to create new AMHS board heads to governor

It’s been a years-long effort.

The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This float marked Taku, which washed up in Olympia, Washington, at first was thought to belong to the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry MV Taku. But its source is still unknown. (Courtesy photo / Karla Patten)

Unidentified floating object: Float’s origin sails into mystery

Despite supposition, float not from famed AHMS ferry.

This float marked Taku, which washed up in Olympia, Washington, at first was thought to belong to the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry MV Taku. But its source is still unknown. (Courtesy photo / Karla Patten)
In this Empire file photo, an Alaska Marine Highway ferry is docked at the Auke Bay terminal in Juneau. A bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would create a new governing board, hopefully bringing stability to the ailing system. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

House passes bill to create new ferry board

A more stable ferry system.

In this Empire file photo, an Alaska Marine Highway ferry is docked at the Auke Bay terminal in Juneau. A bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would create a new governing board, hopefully bringing stability to the ailing system. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

2 Matanuska crewmembers test positive for COVID

No close contacts with passengers identified.

This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee.

Bill that would reshape AMHS leadership moves forward

Ideological divide over the word ‘highway.’

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee.
The Alaska State Marine Highway Ferry Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in June, 2014.

State’s fast ferries sold for over $5M

They’ll be headed to Spain soon.

The Alaska State Marine Highway Ferry Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in June, 2014.
A bill from Gov. Mike Dunleavy would rework the Marine Transportation Advisory Board to help the Alaska Marine Highway System with long-term planning to provide better service for passengers like the ones seen here at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Governor’s new bill would change long-term planning for state’s ferry system

In it for the long haul?

A bill from Gov. Mike Dunleavy would rework the Marine Transportation Advisory Board to help the Alaska Marine Highway System with long-term planning to provide better service for passengers like the ones seen here at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Service from ferries like the MV Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020, have become unreliable for coastal communities as year-to-year planning leads to high levels of uncertainty, according to coastal lawmakers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Lack of planning hampers AMHS, lawmakers say

Uncertainty hurts business.

Service from ferries like the MV Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020, have become unreliable for coastal communities as year-to-year planning leads to high levels of uncertainty, according to coastal lawmakers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Spot, a kitten who escaped on an Alaska Marine Highway ferry bound from Washington to Haines, took a solo adventure in Juneau but was returned to her family in Haines by a thoughtful Juneau resident on March 9, 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ashlyn Harper)

Kitten escaped on ferry found in Juneau and returned to owner

The cat made the last leg of the trip to Haines Tuesday after a solo expedition.

Spot, a kitten who escaped on an Alaska Marine Highway ferry bound from Washington to Haines, took a solo adventure in Juneau but was returned to her family in Haines by a thoughtful Juneau resident on March 9, 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ashlyn Harper)
MV LeConte docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal with the MV Tazlina in the background on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. The LeConte was present in Juneau when a bomb threat was made against it Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Police arrest 1 after bomb threat at ferry terminal

No bomb was located, a JPD spokesperson said.

MV LeConte docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal with the MV Tazlina in the background on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. The LeConte was present in Juneau when a bomb threat was made against it Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This October 2020 photo shows the illuminated Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is now accepting comments on the proposed Alaska Marine Highway summer ferry schedule. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Public comment period opens for ferry schedule

A teleconference is set for Feb. 8.

This October 2020 photo shows the illuminated Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is now accepting comments on the proposed Alaska Marine Highway summer ferry schedule. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This October photo shows the MV Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The ferry's schedule has been changed due to predicted storms. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Storm delays Kennicott sailing

A winter storm will alter the schedule for the next two weeks.

This October photo shows the MV Kennicott at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The ferry's schedule has been changed due to predicted storms. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
MV LeConte docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal with the MV Tazlina in the background on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Leconte adds November and December sailings

Sailings are from Juneau to Hoonah and Gustavus.

MV LeConte docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal with the MV Tazlina in the background on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire The MV Kennicott, docked at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal, was out of commission awaiting repairs on Friday. A report released by the the Alaska Marine Highway Work Group made several recommendations to make the ferry system more effective, but the ferries’ stakeholders say they’ve given up enough already.

Reshaping recommendations roil stakeholders

How much more can you cut?

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire The MV Kennicott, docked at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal, was out of commission awaiting repairs on Friday. A report released by the the Alaska Marine Highway Work Group made several recommendations to make the ferry system more effective, but the ferries’ stakeholders say they’ve given up enough already.
Someone holds up an inflatable Alaska Marine Highway ferry at at a rally to support of the Alaska Marine Highway System on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Long-awaited ferry reshaping report released

Read the full report here.

Someone holds up an inflatable Alaska Marine Highway ferry at at a rally to support of the Alaska Marine Highway System on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in June 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

State accepts bids for 2 fast ferries that faced struggles

The state Department of Transportation issued a public notice of the bidding process Thursday.

The Fairweather pulls up to the Auke Bay Terminal in June 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Crew members on the Tazlina standby as the vessel docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on May 16.

AMHS is down but not out, panelists say

Are regional systems the answer?

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Crew members on the Tazlina standby as the vessel docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on May 16.