Alaska Marine Highway Service subject of Review to determine its future

The MV Malaspina is back on the Run to Rupert, following a winter
hiatus for the AMHS schedule

It's been just over two months since we last saw the MV Malaspina at the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal in Prince Rupert, with the AMHS service having gone into hibernation until last night, when service between Southeast Alaska and British Columbia resumed.

However, as the sailings resume, they do so under some cloudy skies and choppy seas for the Alaska Marine Highway, with the service currently the subject of an extensive review that may significantly change the way that marine transportation operates along the Alaskan coast as the Alaskan government explores ways to cut costs.

Last Thursday the Alaska Department of Transportation outlined how the amended budget will impact on the AMHS system, with service only guaranteed until the end of August.

The fiscal year 2020 Governor's amended budget proposes to change the Alaska Marine Highway System to 84.8 operating weeks of service. The published 2019 summer sailing schedule remains intact through the end of August. 

Service on the Bellingham, northern Lynn Canal, and Ketchikan-Annette Bay routes would continue through the end of September. Details on routes and sailings are available at FerryAlaska.com. 

Per the Governor’s AMHS Directive, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will enlist the assistance of a qualified marine consultant to identify potential reductions of the state’s financial obligation and/or liability as they relate to the AMHS. 

The project will include an analysis of options available for reshaping the system, such as through a public/private partnership, and a determination of the various options’ feasibility, with targeted implementation by July 1, 2020.

Earlier this month, the Alaska House of representatives were provided a review of the economic impacts of the Alaska Marine Highway System with a February 5th presentation.

The financial impact notes are part of a wider AMHS Reform initiative hosted by the Southeast Conference, the umbrella group  for communities up and down the Alaska panhandle, which also includes the City of Prince Rupert.

To put some kind of a timeline to the review, Governor Michael Dunleavy issued a directive on February 12th which indicated that all options are on the table for consideration.

Said to be included on the list of options  is the potential for the privatization of the AMHS service.

August 1st is the deadline for the report that will help to provide some kind of clearer vision as to the path ahead for the State's major transportation provider.

As they continue on with their deliberations, the fate of the north-South link between Prince Rupert and Kethcikan, like the entire system north of Ketchikan will remain in a twilight zone of planning.

With stakeholders, passengers and host communities all waiting for the process to deliver some answers and an indication as to the future for the service that saw its start in 1951 and reached it's peak years of travellers in the early to mid 1990's.

You can review current and past notes of interest related to the service can be found from our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.