Inter-Island Ferry Authority
Encyclopedia
The Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) is a ferry
service in the U.S. state
of Alaska
with its headquarters based in Craig
on Prince of Wales Island
.
, Craig
, Thorne Bay
, Coffman Cove
in addition to the communities of Petersburg
and Wrangell
. By 1998, the state Department of Transportation was behind the idea of a shuttle ferry service between Prince of Wales Island and outlying communities and soon the Alaska Congressional delegation secured funding for two day boats to seed the ferry authority. In 2002, the first vessel, the M/V Prince of Wales
, inaugurated service between Hollis
and Ketchikan
, and in 2006, the M/V Stikine
followed suit with a northerly route.
, which, while regular, was often placed at inconvenient times, specifically the regular occurrence of ferries near midnight, to the annoyance of many island residents. In its last two years of operation to Prince of Wales Island (on the same Hollis-Ketchikan route the IFA operates) it averaged 38,615 passengers and 10,644 vehicles annually. In the IFA, on its first year of operation, carried 54,906 passengers and 14,156 vehicles.
* Denotes the vessels' homeport.
† Denotes a community where connections to the Alaska Marine Highway
are available.
Although Hollis and Coffman Cove are the only Prince of Wales Island communities to receive direct service from the ferries, since the most of the island is connected by a network of logging industry-era roads, the ferry service also serves the Prince of Wales Island communities of Craig
, Hydaburg
, Kasaan
, Klawock
, Nautaki
, Thorne Bay
, and Whale Pass
.
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 in 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...
with its headquarters based in Craig
Craig, Alaska
Craig is a first-class city in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the Unorganized Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 1,397 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on Prince of Wales Island
Prince of Wales Island, Alaska
Prince 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....
.
History
The Inter-Island Ferry Authority was created in 1997 by the Prince of Wales Island communities of KlawockKlawock, Alaska
Klawock is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska, on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, on Klawock Inlet, across from Klawock Island...
, Craig
Craig, Alaska
Craig is a first-class city in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the Unorganized Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 1,397 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Thorne Bay
Thorne Bay, Alaska
Thorne Bay is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 557.-Geography:Thorne Bay is located at ....
, Coffman Cove
Coffman Cove, Alaska
Coffman Cove is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, in the United States. It is located on Prince of Wales Island. The population was 199 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coffman Cove is located at ....
in addition to the communities of 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 :...
and 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...
. By 1998, the state Department of Transportation was behind the idea of a shuttle ferry service between Prince of Wales Island and outlying communities and soon the Alaska Congressional delegation secured funding for two day boats to seed the ferry authority. In 2002, the first vessel, the M/V Prince of Wales
M/V Prince of Wales
M/V Prince of Wales is the first vessel, and currently one of two vessels, in the Inter-Island Ferry Authority . She is the sister ship to the .She was constructed at Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington....
, inaugurated service between Hollis
Hollis, Alaska
Hollis is a census-designated place in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 139.-Geography:Hollis is located at ....
and 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....
, and in 2006, the M/V Stikine
M/V Stikine
M/V Stikine is the second of two vessels in the Inter-Island Ferry Authority fleet. She is the sister ship to the .She was constructed at Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington....
followed suit with a northerly route.
Traffic
One of the primary reasons for the creation of the authority was the spotty service to Prince of Wales Island provided by the Alaska Marine Highway SystemAlaska Marine Highway
The Alaska Marine Highway or the Alaska Marine Highway System is a ferry service operated by the government of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska....
, which, while regular, was often placed at inconvenient times, specifically the regular occurrence of ferries near midnight, to the annoyance of many island residents. In its last two years of operation to Prince of Wales Island (on the same Hollis-Ketchikan route the IFA operates) it averaged 38,615 passengers and 10,644 vehicles annually. In the IFA, on its first year of operation, carried 54,906 passengers and 14,156 vehicles.
Routes and vessels
The Inter-Island Ferry Authority administers two vessels, each with its own daily route:- M/V Prince of WalesM/V Prince of WalesM/V Prince of Wales is the first vessel, and currently one of two vessels, in the Inter-Island Ferry Authority . She is the sister ship to the .She was constructed at Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington....
— HollisHollis, AlaskaHollis is a census-designated place in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 139.-Geography:Hollis is located at ....* -KetchikanKetchikan, AlaskaKetchikan 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....
†-Hollis (the trip occurs twice daily during summer months) - M/V StikineM/V StikineM/V Stikine is the second of two vessels in the Inter-Island Ferry Authority fleet. She is the sister ship to the .She was constructed at Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington....
— Coffman CoveCoffman Cove, AlaskaCoffman Cove is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, in the United States. It is located on Prince of Wales Island. The population was 199 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coffman Cove is located at ....* -WrangellWrangell, AlaskaWrangell 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...
†-PetersburgPetersburg, AlaskaPetersburg 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 :...
†-Wrangell-Coffman Cove
† Denotes a community where connections to the Alaska Marine Highway
Alaska Marine Highway
The Alaska Marine Highway or the Alaska Marine Highway System is a ferry service operated by the government of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska....
are available.
Although Hollis and Coffman Cove are the only Prince of Wales Island communities to receive direct service from the ferries, since the most of the island is connected by a network of logging industry-era roads, the ferry service also serves the Prince of Wales Island communities of Craig
Craig, Alaska
Craig is a first-class city in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the Unorganized Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 1,397 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Hydaburg
Hydaburg, Alaska
Hydaburg is a town in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 382 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hydaburg is located at . It is the southernmost city on Prince of Wales Island...
, Kasaan
Kasaan, Alaska
Kasaan is a city in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 39 at the 2000 census.-History:Kasaan is one of the main historical communities of the Kaigani Haida...
, Klawock
Klawock, Alaska
Klawock is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska, on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, on Klawock Inlet, across from Klawock Island...
, Nautaki
Naukati Bay, Alaska
Naukati Bay is a census-designated place in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 135 at the 2000 census....
, Thorne Bay
Thorne Bay, Alaska
Thorne Bay is a city in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 557.-Geography:Thorne Bay is located at ....
, and Whale Pass
Whale Pass, Alaska
Whale Pass is a census-designated place in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 58 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Whale Pass is located at ....
.
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...
, a ferry service similar to the IFA just south of Alaska in British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish 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...
, CanadaCanadaCanada 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...