Foggy future for Kennicott and Tustumena by James Brooks / - TopicsExpress



          

Foggy future for Kennicott and Tustumena by James Brooks / editor@kodiakdailymirror Jul 29, 2013 On Saturday, the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Kennicott dropped its mooring lines and disappeared into the fog off City Pier 2. For the ferry system, the fog is metaphorical as well as physical. Communities across southwest Alaska spent the weekend trying to discern their uncertain future after the ferry system announced that the Tustumena, the main ferry serving southwest Alaska, will remain in dry dock indefinitely. Capt. John Falvey, general manager of the ferry system, told Kodiak city clerk Deb Marlar last week that the goal is to have the Tustumena back by October. Since then, ferry officials have walked back from that deadline. “That’s a hopeful timeline right now,” said ferry system spokesman Jeremy Woodrow. “We’ve canceled sailings of the Tustumena through September. … We can’t make any promises at this time until we have a definite repair plan from the shipyard.” If the Tustumena returns to service in October, it will do so 11 months into what was scheduled to be a six-month dry dock stay in Seward. Without the Tustumena, southwestern communities have limped along with occasional service from the Kennicott, but that ship is too large to fit in some ports. Making matters worse, the Kennicott is assigned to the Washington-Whittier route, meaning there was no time for trips to Dutch Harbor or other Alaska Peninsula ports. After last week’s announcement, Seldovia, Homer, Dutch Harbor, Sand Point, Kodiak and other communities have begun petitioning Gov. Sean Parnell and the ferry system to do something — anything — to restore regular ferry service. “Business-wise, we’re great. I appreciate the Alaska Marine Highway System. I just wish the damn boat would get back in the water,” Phil Morris of Homer’s Alaska Ferry Adventures told the Homer News. In Dutch Harbor, the Unalaska convention and visitors bureau is asking all hands to sign a letter to Gov. Parnell. In Kodiak, the borough assembly is scheduled to join the city with a resolution asking for action. For its part, the ferry system will resume service to Dutch Harbor in September with the Kennicott, tentatively scheduled to travel west in the final week of that month. Port Lions, Ouzinkie, Chignik and False Pass will not see any service this year, and more trouble lies ahead. According to the ferry system’s long-term schedule, the Kennicott was supposed to be taken out of service Sept. 16 for an offseason layup and overhaul and would remain on land through March. It now seems unlikely that the Kennicott will be able to stick to that schedule. With so much to be determined, the fate of southwestern Alaska ferry service lies with the Kennicott, a ship shrouded by fog.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 17:30:04 +0000

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