MOS works to ease travel around ferry suspension

In response to the delays caused by the closing of the Skagway ferry dock, the Municipality is working with the Alaska Marine Highway System, the Haines Borough and local business, Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry to supplement water travel to Haines through the end of September.

This service will be in coordination with AMHS sailings as weather permits.  

Should the dock closure go beyond Sept. 30, the entities will reassess needs based on the status of the Skagway ferry terminal.

The service will operate in both directions.

Alaska Fjordlines is set to operate through mid-September and Alaska Seaplanes has daily flights to Haines and Juneau.

AHMS suspended service to Skagway after the M/V Hubbard finished its Aug.15 call, citing cracks in the concrete abutment supporting the terminal’s vehicle bridge and passenger walkway earlier that week.

DOT&PF planned to mobilize commercial divers to the area, disconnect electrical service, remove the transfer bridge and walkway via crane and have engineers and leadership respond to the damage.

DOT&PF says engineers continue to assess the cause and full extent of the damage. They are also examining the terminal’s structural condition, anchor system, and the forces acting on the facility. 

DOT&PF says it would be premature to attribute the damage to a specific cause until those inspections are complete.
 AMHS personnel are assisting affected passengers with their reservations and available options. Information about affected sailings is available at FerryAlaska.com. A reopening date has not been established, and the terminal will remain closed to ferry operations until DOT&PF determines that service can safely resume.

MOS is directing those seeking information to check the AMHS Facebook page or the AMHS website for service notice updates.

The Skagway Visitors Department created a flow-chart, shown on page one, to help travelers manage their travel to and from Skagway.