Caleb Vierkant/ Wrangell Sentinel

The M/V Matanuska stopped in Wrangell last Sunday evening. This is the first stop by an AMHS ferry in Wrangell in several months. Donald Templin, with the Alaska Marine Highway, said that the last ferry to stop in Wrangell was on January 25, also the Matanuska. The ferry system has faced many struggles in recent history, including budget cuts, a strike, and an aging fleet. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to several new safety guidelines for workers and travelers to follow. Among these protocols, according to the Alaska Marine Highway website, includes limited passenger capacities, crew screenings, and passenger screenings for long voyages. The Matanuska arrived from Ketchikan, according to the schedule on the AMHS website, and departed for Petersburg later that evening.