Wrangell Sentinel -

The 58-year-old state ferry Matanuska will spend an additional two weeks in a Ketchikan shipyard so that workers can repair and replace corroded steel discovered below deck.

The Kennicott will help cover Southeast during the vessel’s absence.

The Matanuska is expected to resume its scheduled service on Dec. 20, running from Ketchikan to Bellingham, Washington, to pick up its generally weekly runs from Puget Sound through Southeast Alaska, said Sam Dapcevich, spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation.

“During routine shipyard inspections, some wasted steel was discovered on the Ma...