Alaska Marine Highway
Encyclopedia
The Alaska Marine Highway or the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is a ferry
service operated by the government of the U.S. state
of Alaska
. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska.
The Alaska Marine Highway System operates along the south-central coast of the state, the eastern Aleutian islands and the Inside Passage
of Alaska and British Columbia
, Canada
. Ferries serve communities in Southeastern Alaska that have no road access, and the vessels can transport people, freight, and vehicles. AMHS's 3500 miles (5,632.7 km) of routes go as far south as Bellingham, Washington
in the contiguous United States
and as far west as Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
, with a total of 32 terminals throughout Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. It is part of the National Highway System
and receives federal highway funding. It is also a form of transportation of vehicles between the state and the contiguous United States without going through Canada
.
The Alaska Marine Highway System is a rare example (in the USA) of a shipping line offering regularly scheduled service for the primary purpose of transportation rather than of leisure or entertainment. Voyages can last many days, but, in contrast to the luxury of a typical cruise line, cabins cost extra, and most food is served cafeteria-style.
residents Steve Homer and Ray Gelotte, who used a converted LCT-Mark VI
landing craft
which they christened the M/V Chilkoot. Their business was purchased by the territorial government
in 1951 and renamed the Alaska Marine Highway System by the state government in 1963. Service was extended to Prince Rupert, British Columbia
that year, and to Seattle, Washington
(at Pier 48), in 1967. The southern terminus of the AMHS was moved from Seattle to Bellingham, Washington
in October 1989, after years of lobbying by Bellingham and the construction of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.
In September 2005, the Alaska Marine Highway was named an All-American Road
by the Federal Highway Administration
.
the morning, travel to destination ports and then return to their home port on the same day. The shorter routes are commonly referred to as “day boat” routes. The mainline routes carry a high percentage of tourists in the summer, and provide service between Bellingham, Washington or Prince Rupert, British Columbia and Skagway, Alaska. Along the way, the ships stop in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, and Haines. Although Kake and Hoonah are smaller communities, they are served by certain mainline sailings. During 2008, the five largest AMHS vessels were used on the Southeast mainline routes. These were the M/V Columbia, M/V Kennicott, M/V Malaspina, M/V Matanuska, and M/V Taku. Day boat service was also provided on the North Lynn Canal route during the peak summer season by M/V Malaspina. This route provides round-trip service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway. The day boat routes connect the smaller communities of Southeast Alaska with each other and with the Southeast Alaska mainline communities Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway) that serve as regional centers for commerce, government health services, and/or connections to other transportation systems. The day boat routes primarily serve local residents, and include Angoon, Hoonah, Kake, Metlakatla, Pelican, and Tenakee. In 2008 there were three AMHS vessels that provided service on the day boat routes. These were the M/V LeConte, the M/V Fairweather and the M/V Lituya. The M/V Lituya is dedicated to providing day boat service between Ketchikan and Metlakatla. The Southeast System connects with the continental road system at Bellingham, Washington, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and in Alaska at Haines and Skagway.
This trip is not made in the winter because of adverse weather conditions. In 2008 service in Prince William Sound to Valdez, Cordova and Whittier was provided by the M/V Aurora. The M/V Chenega provided additional service during the summer season, and the M/V Kennicott provided supplemental service. AMHS also provided fifty-five stops in the village of Tatitlek and thirty-six stops in Chenega Bay. Tourist passengers add a significant percentage to the Prince William Sound traffic in the summer, especially between Valdez and Whittier. In the winter months when traffic demand was significantly reduced and weather conditions worsened, the M/V Chenega was moved to North Lynn Canal to replace the Fairweather for its overhaul period. The M/V Tustumena also underwent a CIP project, leaving the M/V Aurora to provide service between the ports.
, though administrative offices were recently and controversially moved to Ketchikan
. Other smaller operational hubs include Cordova
(Prince William Sound
), Ketchikan (southern Panhandle), and Kodiak
(Southcentral Alaska).
The AMHS serves the following communities year-round:
Akutan
; Angoon
; Bellingham, Washington
; Chenega Bay; Chignik
; Cold Bay
; Cordova
; False Pass
; Haines
; Homer
; Hoonah
; Juneau
; Kake
; Ketchikan
; King Cove
; Kodiak
; Metlakatla
; Petersburg
; Port Lions
; Prince Rupert, British Columbia
; Sand Point
; Seldovia
; Sitka; Skagway
; Tatitlek
; Tenakee Springs
; Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
; Valdez
; Whittier
; Wrangell
; and Yakutat. Bartlett Cove, location of the Glacier Bay National Park
ranger
station and eight miles (13 km) from the community of Gustavus
, is served occasionally by the M/V LeConte in summer months.
Most Alaska Marine Highway System vessels are built for multiple-day voyages due to the large distances between ports. For example, it takes just under three days to travel from Bellingham to Skagway, and 18 hours for the Sitka to Juneau "milk run." Because of this, larger vessels (M/V Tustumena and larger) come with staterooms, while all mainline vessels have solarium
s, showers, and lounges for sleeping. Hot food services and, on the M/V Columbia, a sit-down restaurant are also offered.
In July 2011 the Marine Highway began the bidding process to build the first of what they refer to as "Alaska-Class Vessels," made to travel shorter routes. They would not have staterooms available for passengers. One hundred-twenty million dollars have been set aside for the project, no set timeline for completion has been established.
All current vessels are named after Alaskan glaciers.
(one of the primary reasons Bellingham and Prince Rupert are AMHS destinations). Tent cities commonly sprout up on the aft of mainline vessels, and for budget-travellers, the AMHS is one of the top modes of transportation to the "Last Frontier". Service drops off significantly in winter. Vessels usually undergo overhauls and renovations during this period due to the decline in passenger and vehicle traffic (attributed to lack of tourists).
Together, these services cover the length of the Inside Passage
. They connect at a number of locations.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service operated by the government of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska.
The Alaska Marine Highway System operates along the south-central coast of the state, the eastern Aleutian islands and the Inside Passage
Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific coast of North America. The route extends from southeastern Alaska, in the United States, through western British Columbia, in Canada, to northwestern Washington...
of Alaska and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Ferries serve communities in Southeastern Alaska that have no road access, and the vessels can transport people, freight, and vehicles. AMHS's 3500 miles (5,632.7 km) of routes go as far south as Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
in the contiguous United States
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
and as far west as Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
Unalaska, Alaska
Unalaska is a city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Unalaska is located on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands off of mainland Alaska....
, with a total of 32 terminals throughout Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. It is part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
and receives federal highway funding. It is also a form of transportation of vehicles between the state and the contiguous United States without going through Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The Alaska Marine Highway System is a rare example (in the USA) of a shipping line offering regularly scheduled service for the primary purpose of transportation rather than of leisure or entertainment. Voyages can last many days, but, in contrast to the luxury of a typical cruise line, cabins cost extra, and most food is served cafeteria-style.
History
The Alaska Marine Highway was founded in 1948 by HainesHaines, Alaska
Haines is a census-designated place in Haines Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the area was 1,811. Haines was formerly a city but no longer has a municipal government...
residents Steve Homer and Ray Gelotte, who used a converted LCT-Mark VI
Landing craft tank
The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later...
landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
which they christened the M/V Chilkoot. Their business was purchased by the territorial government
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
in 1951 and renamed the Alaska Marine Highway System by the state government in 1963. Service was extended to Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
that year, and to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
(at Pier 48), in 1967. The southern terminus of the AMHS was moved from Seattle to Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
in October 1989, after years of lobbying by Bellingham and the construction of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.
In September 2005, the Alaska Marine Highway was named an All-American Road
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
by the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
.
Southeast Alaska
The southeast AMHS route system is divided into two subsystems: the mainline routes which typically take more than one day for the ship to travel; and shorter routes where the vessels depart their home port inthe morning, travel to destination ports and then return to their home port on the same day. The shorter routes are commonly referred to as “day boat” routes. The mainline routes carry a high percentage of tourists in the summer, and provide service between Bellingham, Washington or Prince Rupert, British Columbia and Skagway, Alaska. Along the way, the ships stop in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, and Haines. Although Kake and Hoonah are smaller communities, they are served by certain mainline sailings. During 2008, the five largest AMHS vessels were used on the Southeast mainline routes. These were the M/V Columbia, M/V Kennicott, M/V Malaspina, M/V Matanuska, and M/V Taku. Day boat service was also provided on the North Lynn Canal route during the peak summer season by M/V Malaspina. This route provides round-trip service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway. The day boat routes connect the smaller communities of Southeast Alaska with each other and with the Southeast Alaska mainline communities Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway) that serve as regional centers for commerce, government health services, and/or connections to other transportation systems. The day boat routes primarily serve local residents, and include Angoon, Hoonah, Kake, Metlakatla, Pelican, and Tenakee. In 2008 there were three AMHS vessels that provided service on the day boat routes. These were the M/V LeConte, the M/V Fairweather and the M/V Lituya. The M/V Lituya is dedicated to providing day boat service between Ketchikan and Metlakatla. The Southeast System connects with the continental road system at Bellingham, Washington, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and in Alaska at Haines and Skagway.
Cross-Gulf Service
When the M/V Kennicott, a vessel certified to operate in open waters, joined the fleet in summer 1998 the ferry system expanded to include regular cross-gulf sailings. Also known as “inter-tie trips”, these sailings connect Southeastern Alaska with Southcentral and Southwest regions of the state. All cross-gulf trips include a stop at the port of Yakutat, a community that is unique in that it is served only on a cross-gulf route. During 2008, the AMHS provided Yakutat with 10 port calls.Southwest Alaska
The Southwest system serves Prince William Sound, Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands. The M/V Tustumena provides regular service between Kodiak, Port Lions, Seldovia and Homer. In 2008, between April and October, the M/V Tustumena traveled out the Aleutian chain once a month to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, stopping at Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, False Pass, Akutan and Cold Bay.This trip is not made in the winter because of adverse weather conditions. In 2008 service in Prince William Sound to Valdez, Cordova and Whittier was provided by the M/V Aurora. The M/V Chenega provided additional service during the summer season, and the M/V Kennicott provided supplemental service. AMHS also provided fifty-five stops in the village of Tatitlek and thirty-six stops in Chenega Bay. Tourist passengers add a significant percentage to the Prince William Sound traffic in the summer, especially between Valdez and Whittier. In the winter months when traffic demand was significantly reduced and weather conditions worsened, the M/V Chenega was moved to North Lynn Canal to replace the Fairweather for its overhaul period. The M/V Tustumena also underwent a CIP project, leaving the M/V Aurora to provide service between the ports.
Communities served
The Alaska Marine Highway's main hub is in JuneauJuneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, though administrative offices were recently and controversially moved to Ketchikan
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
. Other smaller operational hubs include Cordova
Cordova, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,454 people, 958 households, and 597 families residing in the city. The population density was 40.0 per square mile . There are 1,099 housing units at an average density of 17.9 per square mile...
(Prince William Sound
Prince William Sound
Prince William Sound is a sound off the Gulf of Alaska on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is located on the east side of the Kenai Peninsula. Its largest port is Valdez, at the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System...
), Ketchikan (southern Panhandle), and Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
(Southcentral Alaska).
The AMHS serves the following communities year-round:
Akutan
Akutan, Alaska
Akutan is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. The population was 713 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 812.-Geography:Akutan is located at...
; Angoon
Angoon, Alaska
Angoon is a city on Admiralty Island in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 572, by the 2010 census the population had declined to 459...
; Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
; Chenega Bay; Chignik
Chignik, Alaska
-External links:* / by Mark A. Stichert. Hosted by the ....
; Cold Bay
Cold Bay, Alaska
Cold Bay is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States.Cold Bay is one of the main commercial centers of the Alaska Peninsula, and is home to Cold Bay Airport.-History:...
; Cordova
Cordova, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,454 people, 958 households, and 597 families residing in the city. The population density was 40.0 per square mile . There are 1,099 housing units at an average density of 17.9 per square mile...
; False Pass
False Pass, Alaska
False Pass is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. Isanax̂ is the Aleut name for present day Isanotski Strait and means gap, hole, rent, or tear in the Aleut language which was rendered as Isanotski in transliterated Russian...
; Haines
Haines, Alaska
Haines is a census-designated place in Haines Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the area was 1,811. Haines was formerly a city but no longer has a municipal government...
; Homer
Homer, Alaska
Homer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364. One of Homer's nicknames is "the cosmic hamlet by the sea"; another is "the end of the road"...
; Hoonah
Hoonah, Alaska
Hoonah is a Tlingit community on Chichagof Island, located in Alaska's "panhandle" in the southeast region of the state. It is 30 miles west of Juneau, across the Alaskan Inland Passage. Hoonah is the only first-class city on Chichagof Island, the 109th largest island in the world and the 5th...
; Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
; Kake
Kake, Alaska
Kake is a town in Petersburg Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 710 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the Tlingit word or , which is derived from “dawn, daylight” and “mouth”, i.e. “mouth of dawn” or “opening of daylight”.-Geography:Kake is located at...
; Ketchikan
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
; King Cove
King Cove, Alaska
King Cove is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 792.-Geography:...
; Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
; Metlakatla
Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla is a census-designated place on Annette Island in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,375.- History :...
; Petersburg
Petersburg, Alaska
Petersburg is a city in Petersburg Census Area, Alaska, in the United States. According to 2009 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 2,824 full time residents.- History :...
; Port Lions
Port Lions, Alaska
Port Lions is a city located on Kodiak Island in the Kodiak Island Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 256....
; Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
; Sand Point
Sand Point, Alaska
Sand Point, also known as Qagun Tayagungin, is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 952. In 2009, the population was 962. It is located on northwestern Popof Island, off the Alaska Peninsula...
; Seldovia
Seldovia, Alaska
Seldovia is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. The population was 286 at the 2000 census. There is no road system connecting the town to other communities, so planes and boats are used for transportation....
; Sitka; Skagway
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. It was formerly a city first incorporated in 1900 that was re-incorporated as a borough on June 25, 2007. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 862...
; Tatitlek
Tatitlek, Alaska
Tatitlek is a census-designated place in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 107 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tatitlek is located at ....
; Tenakee Springs
Tenakee Springs, Alaska
Tenakee Springs is a city on Chichagof Island in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 104.-Geography:Tenakee Springs is located at ....
; Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
Unalaska, Alaska
Unalaska is a city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Unalaska is located on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands off of mainland Alaska....
; Valdez
Valdez, Alaska
Valdez is a city in Valdez-Cordova Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 4,020. The city is one of the most important ports in Alaska. The port of Valdez was named in 1790 after the Spanish naval officer Antonio Valdés y...
; Whittier
Whittier, Alaska
Whittier is a city in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of 2006, the population was 177. The city is also a port for the Alaska Marine Highway.-Geography:...
; Wrangell
Wrangell, Alaska
Wrangell is a city and borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2000 census the population was 2,308.Its Tlingit name is Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw . The Tlingit people residing in the Wrangell area, who were there centuries before Europeans, call themselves the Shtaxʼhéen Ḵwáan after the nearby Stikine...
; and Yakutat. Bartlett Cove, location of the Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Glacier Bay National Park is a national park in Alaska. The area around Glacier Bay in southeastern Alaska was first proclaimed a U.S. National Monument on February 25, 1925. It was changed to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve on Dec. 2, 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation...
ranger
Park ranger
A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
station and eight miles (13 km) from the community of Gustavus
Gustavus, Alaska
Gustavus is a city in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2000 census the population was 429.-Geography:Gustavus is located at ....
, is served occasionally by the M/V LeConte in summer months.
Current vessels
The following vessels, from smallest to largest, currently serve in the Alaska Marine Highway's fleet:- M/V Lituya, solely dedicated to serving the Ketchikan-Metlakatla route.
- M/V Aurora, operates in Prince William Sound.
- M/V LeConte, serves the feeder communities in northern Southeast as a day boat.
- M/V Chenega (fast ferry), operates in Prince William Sound.
- M/V Fairweather (fast ferry), operates a variety of routes in Southeast Alaska.
- M/V Tustumena, serves Southcentral and Aleutian Island communities.
- M/V Taku, runs mainline throughout Southeast Alaska.
- M/V Malaspina, runs mainline throughout Southeast Alaska, frequently beginning in Bellingham.
- M/V Matanuska, runs mainline throughout Southeast Alaska, frequently beginning in Prince Rupert, but beginning in Bellingham for Spring 2011.
- M/V Kennicott, runs mainline throughout Southeast Alaska, frequently beginning in Prince Rupert and making a cross-Gulf of AlaskaGulf of AlaskaThe Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west to the Alexander Archipelago in the east, where Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage are found.The entire shoreline of the Gulf is...
trip to Southcentral Alaska once a month. - M/V Columbia, runs mainline throughout Southeast Alaska, frequently beginning in Bellingham.
Most Alaska Marine Highway System vessels are built for multiple-day voyages due to the large distances between ports. For example, it takes just under three days to travel from Bellingham to Skagway, and 18 hours for the Sitka to Juneau "milk run." Because of this, larger vessels (M/V Tustumena and larger) come with staterooms, while all mainline vessels have solarium
Solarium
Solarium may refer to:* Similar to a Sunroom, a room built largely of glass to afford exposure to the sun. Solariums have glass roofs , unlike sunrooms...
s, showers, and lounges for sleeping. Hot food services and, on the M/V Columbia, a sit-down restaurant are also offered.
In July 2011 the Marine Highway began the bidding process to build the first of what they refer to as "Alaska-Class Vessels," made to travel shorter routes. They would not have staterooms available for passengers. One hundred-twenty million dollars have been set aside for the project, no set timeline for completion has been established.
All current vessels are named after Alaskan glaciers.
Retired vessels
In addition to the current fleet, the following vessels have been retired:- M/V BartlettMV BartlettM/V Bartlett was a ferry vessel for the Alaska Marine Highway servicing Prince William Sound. It was retired in2003 due to impending regulations which would have required substantial and expensive upgrades....
- M/V Chilkat
- M/V Chilkoot
- M/V WickershamMV WickershamMV Wickersham was a mainline ferry vessel for the Alaska Marine Highway.Wickersham was the second vessel, after the MV Chilkat, in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet to not have been constructed specifically for AMHS, but was rather acquired for from the Stena Line, where it was known as the Stena...
Traffic
The AMHS carries around 350,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles every year. In their 2008 Annual Traffic Volume Report, the Alaska Marine Highway reported moving 340,412 passengers and 109,839 vehicles; equating to the highest passenger ridership in eight years and the highest vehicle ridership in sixteen. The Ferry is very popular with summer touristsTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
(one of the primary reasons Bellingham and Prince Rupert are AMHS destinations). Tent cities commonly sprout up on the aft of mainline vessels, and for budget-travellers, the AMHS is one of the top modes of transportation to the "Last Frontier". Service drops off significantly in winter. Vessels usually undergo overhauls and renovations during this period due to the decline in passenger and vehicle traffic (attributed to lack of tourists).
Politics
The ferry system has been in the spotlight in recent years over a proposal to build a road link between Skagway and Juneau, the only mainland state capital in the United States without road access. Proponents of the road have called the ferry service spotty and expensive compared to roads and say residents should be able to come and go as they please. Critics say the very people who want the road - the Governor's administration - are also in charge of the ferry system and are themselves responsible for the "spotty" ferry service and service changes often considered illogical. As well as the possibility for improved commerce and improved capital access, a road would present significant environmental, financial and social concerns that must be addressed.See also
- BC FerriesBC FerriesBritish Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
– British Columbia's ferry system, similar to the Alaska Marine Highway - Inter-Island Ferry AuthorityInter-Island Ferry AuthorityThe Inter-Island Ferry Authority is a ferry service in the U.S. state of Alaska with its headquarters based in Craig on Prince of Wales Island.-History:...
– A Southeast Alaskan ferry system that operates out of Prince of Wales IslandPrince of Wales Island, AlaskaPrince of Wales Island is one of the islands of the Alexander Archipelago in the Alaska Panhandle. It is the fourth-largest island in the United States and the 97th-largest island in the world.... - Puget Sound Navigation CompanyPuget Sound Navigation CompanyThe Puget Sound Navigation Company was founded by Joshua Green in 1913. It operated a fleet of steamboats and ferries on Puget Sound in Washington and the Georgia Strait in British Columbia...
, a private company connecting Washington and British Columbia - Washington State FerriesWashington State FerriesWashington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
- State-operated ferry system serving Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and Sidney, B.C.
Together, these services cover the length of the Inside Passage
Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific coast of North America. The route extends from southeastern Alaska, in the United States, through western British Columbia, in Canada, to northwestern Washington...
. They connect at a number of locations.