Wrangell would get pretty much the same service it has in recent years under the draft fall/winter state ferry schedule released last week — one stop in each direction per week, October through April.
Fortunately, unlike the past two years, when the community endured almost a two-month span each fall without any ferry service, the draft schedule shows no interruptions in service. That assumes ships return to service from winter overhaul on schedule, which has been inconsistent, particularly as supply-chain issues delay the delivery of needed parts.
A state ferry would stop in Wrangell northbound each week on Friday, then come back on its southbound run every Monday on its way to Ketchikan and Bellingham, Washington, according to the draft schedule released Aug. 16.
Other coastal communities will not be so fortunate to see weekly service this fall and winter as vessels are taken out of service for annual maintenance.
The Cook Inlet and Gulf of Alaska communities of Homer, Seldovia and Kodiak would receive no service after the first week of January through early March. Prince William Sound communities of Whittier, Cordova and Valdez would be without ferry service October and November.
And although the Northern Lynn Canal run of Juneau-Haines-Skagway would get its weekly sailing throughout the fall and winter under the draft schedule, its usual additional twice-weekly shuttle run between the three cities could be lost in January and February if the state is unable to fully staff the Tazlina to cover the route while the LeConte is in winter overhaul.
Similar to last winter, the Marine Highway System said it would contract for private vessel operators “as needed” to pick up some of the port calls to the smaller Southeast communities of Hoonah, Gustavus, Tenakee and Pelican if the Tazlina does not go to work.
But ferry system management is hopeful the Tazlina will sail, said spokesman Sam Dapcevich. “We have a very heavy recruitment effort going on.”
Robert Venables, executive director of the Southeast Conference, said last week, “Their recruitment strategy … I find very lacking.”
The ferry system has lost more staff to resignations and retirement in the past three years than it has added in new hires. A common complaint among potential hires is the lack of scheduling certainty and enough work hours, Venables said. The nonprofit Southeast Conference is a coalition of municipal and business leaders that advocates for regional issues, including stable ferry service.
The Alaska Marine Highway System blamed a lack of crew for its decision not to put the Columbia back into service in Southeast this summer. The ship, the largest of the fleet, has been out of service since fall 2019 for repairs, overhaul, and due to a crew shortage.
Periods of little or no service have become more frequent throughout the Alaska Marine Highway System in recent years due to a combination of fewer operating ships, staffing shortages and budget cuts — though this winter’s budget is healthier than in past years and sufficient to cover operations, state officials and legislators have said.
The state has been working since last winter to replace the depleted ranks of ferry system crew, making insufficient progress. The Tustemena was tied up in Homer for a week in late July due to a crew shortage.
The proposed fall/winter schedule for Oct. 1 through April 30 shows almost 135 “vessel weeks” of service, up from 115 weeks during the 2021-22 winter schedule, according to the Marine Highway System’s Aug. 16 announcement. A vessel week is a ship operating for a week.
The ferry system is accepting public comments on the draft schedule through Friday. Written comments can be submitted online at publicinput.com/G6532, and by email at: 71585@PublicInput.com. The schedule is available online at bit.ly/3dMuOnA.
The Matanuska, the mainstay of Southeast service, will be in overhaul all fall and winter, with the Kennicott covering the start of fall and then the Columbia coming back to work for the first time in three years to fill in until the Matanuska returns to service next summer. That combination of the Kennicott and Columbia would provide Wrangell with weekly service.
“The Columbia will be ready to sail this fall after final steel repairs, a shaft and propeller reinstallation, and required safety inspections,” the state reported last week.
After a resumption of state ferry service this summer to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, from a three-year absence, the Canadian port is not part of the fall/winter schedule.
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