The state has released its draft winter ferry schedule, which residents might find familiar. Sam Dapcevich is a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation.

Dapcevich: “It’s pretty similar to last year’s winter schedule. We’re dealing with the same fleet and the same crewing situation.”

 As in recent years, there will be one ferry, serving the main route through Southeast Alaska from Skagway to Bellingham. That means many southeast. communities will see one ferry stop going north and south each week. Sitka, however, will see only one ferry going in one direction each week. Dapcevich says it might be north or south throughout the winter.

Dapcevich: “There’s a little bit of variability there but it always stops in Sitka in one direction or the other.”

 The Kennicott will be sailing that route through October and then the Columbia will run November through April. They are scheduled to stop in Haines and Skagway on Saturdays.

The Hubbard will connect Haines and Skagway to Juneau on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, from October to January, and the Leconte will take over that route  from February.through April. 

 There will be no service for Prince William Sound, including Cordova and Valdez, from October through December when the Aurora is docked for maintenance. The Homer and Kodiak region will have no ferry service from January through March. That’s when the 60-year-old Tustumena will be getting annual maintenance.

Dapcevich: “When that ship is in its annual overhaul, it’s inspected by the Coast Guard or by the American Bureau of Shipping. You know, they go over that vessel with a fine toothcomb. These vessels are very closely looked at.”

 The state plans to replace the Tustumena in 2027 with a hybrid diesel-electric ship that’s larger and faster.

 The Tustumena is just one of the state’s old ferries. Four others are nearly 50 years or older and their age means more maintenance. The Matanuska has remained in overhaul status for expensive repairs since January of last year. Dapcevich says deciding whether to fix that vessel or any of the aging fleet isn’t easy.

Dapcevich: “They’re tough decisions, like, how many more years do you get? The Matanuska is 60 years old – if you plug $40 million into it, will it be a stopgap vessel? Will it keep you going? Or are you going to continue to fight with other issues?”

 For the long-term outlook, Dapcevisch says next year should see a similar schedule. But they’ll start adding crew quarters to the Tazlina [taz-LEE-nuh], which would bring another vessel to potentially fill service gaps to the Southwest region in 2027.

 As for ferries connecting to Prince Rupert, BC like they used to, that service has stopped.

You can submit comments through Tuesday the 25th.

DOT will be holding two Zoom meetings on Wednesday when the public can also comment. The meeting for the Southeast region is at 10 a.m.