Fast ferries will figure prominently in Southeast Alaska’s future under a long-term transportation plan recently detailed by the state’s governor.

More than $1.8 billion in spending is envisioned for highway and ferry projects over a 20-year period in the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan (SATP). Some $1.3 billion of the spending is expected to be covered by federal grants.

“Transportation is the lifeblood of a region, and in Southeast Alaska, transportation means roads and ferries,” Governor Frank Murkowski said. “Our plan uses the right mix of transportation links to give Alaskans access to jobs and economic opportunities, access to neighboring communities, and access to the world at large.”
Many of the island communities in Southeast Alaska depend on regular ferry service as a vital and sole link to the mainland.

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) took delivery of its first fast vehicle ferry, the 250-passenger, 35-vehicle M/V Fairweather, (pictured on our October cover) earlier this year from Derecktor Shipyards, Bridgeport, Conn. The Fairweather operates between Juneau, Haines, Skagway and Sitka. The shipyard is building a sister vessel, the M/V Chenega, which will be added to the fleet next year.

Under the SATP, new fast ferries will be used to cover road gaps of 70 miles or more, and older, mainline feeder ferries will be retired.

Other recommendations made by SATP include:

• Frequent ferry service to Haines and a new ferry terminal near the Katzehin River.
• A new terminal serving Sitka from the east or northeast of Baranof Island for more frequent, less expensive ferry service
• A short shuttle ferry connecting Kake and Petersburg across the Wrangell Narrows
• A short ferry shuttle connection to the north end of Prince of Wales Island near Red Bay.
• The replacement of two aging mainline ferries at a cost of about $240 million on Juneau-Bellingham routes.

NOT HIGH-SPEED, BUT...
While it’s not looking for a speedy vehicle ferry, the Inter-Island Ferry Authority, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, recently issued a Request for Proposals for the detail engineering and construction of a near sister vessel to the Subchapter K, passenger/vehicle ferry Prince of Wales.

The RFP is for detail engineering, construction, completion, testing and delivery of the M/V Stikine, a 195 passenger, 30 car, Subchapter K steel-hulled, vehicle/passenger ferry, for year round service in Southeast Alaska. The M/V Stikine will be the IFA’s second ferry and will be built for delivery in the spring of 2006.
The Prince of Wales cost some $12 million to build in 2001.
The new ferry will have a length overall of 197 feet, 6 inches, a beam of 53 feet, and a design draft between 9 and 12 feet. The ship will have geared diesel propulsion with twin, controllable pitch propellers.

LAKE EXPRESS SUCCESS
While the Fairweather was the first high-speed vehicle ferry to be built and delivered by a U.S. shipyard, the M/V Lake Express was the first U.S.-built, high-speed vehicle ferry to go into service, initiating cross-lakes service between Milwaukee and Muskegon, Mich., on June 1. The initial success of the fast vehicle ferry Lake Express has its owners contemplating a second vessel.

“There’s been some early discussions about building a second boat at Austal,” said Lake Express spokesman Jeff Fleming.

While the company has not released passenger and vehicle count figures, Fleming said that the service has “well exceeded our initial expectations.”
Austal USA spokeswoman Michelle Bowden, however, said they have not yet been approached about building a second boat for Lake Express. She also said the contract for the Lake Express did not contain an option for a second vessel.

Milwaukee-based Lake Express LLC used a $14.5 million Title XI ship loan guarantee from the U.S. Maritime Administration to help finance the construction of the 250-passenger, 46-vehicle Lake Express.

HAWAII SUPERFERRY TAKES SHAPE
And, of course, fast vehicle ferries are being built for warmer climates as well. The first of two 345-foot (105-meter) catamaran ferries has for Hawaii Superferry already begun to take shape at Austal USA, Mobile, Ala.

A christening ceremony on June 3rd began the construction of the roll-on/roll-off ferry. When completed, it will be the largest aluminum ship built in the U.S.

Speaking at the christening, Timothy Dick, Hawaii Superferry’s chairman, said, “This is a significant milestone for both Hawaii Superferry and Austal USA. Hawaii will soon benefit from an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, convenient and economical sea transportation system. We chose Austal USA specifically because of their tremendous experience in aluminum shipbuilding, including more than 80 fast ferries, and their track record of delivering on time and on budget.”

Austal’s 360 ft x 86 ft x 72 ft construction hall will be entirely filled by the new ship when complete. The doors will be removed to launch the vessel.

Hawaii Superferry began as an idea in July 2001 when one of the founders saw the latest generation of large, high-speed roll-on/roll-off catamaran ferries operating between Barcelona, Spain, and the island of Majorca (Mallorca) in the Mediterranean Sea.

He realized that these big “cats” offered a combination of five critical factors which had never been combined before:

• Speed
• Carrying capacity
• Ocean capability
• Comfort
• Economy

The first HSF ship is expected to enter service late in 2006, followed by the second in 2007.

Tell a friend: