October, November sailings bring AMHS vessel Malaspina back to Prince Rupert for special trips

The MV Malaspina at the AMHS Dock In Prince Rupert earlier this year.
The Alaska Ferry Service has announced a limited return of two sailings
to and from Prince Rupert, one this month, the other in November

There doesn't appear to be any fanfare associated with a pair of special sailings into Prince Rupert over the next few months by the Alaska Marine Highway System, nor does it seem to suggest any change in their decision to end regularly scheduled service.

However, sharp eyed harbour watchers will find the MV Malaspina slipping into town with two sailings to the AMHS Terminal at Fairview, one this month and one the next.

The surprise sailings are now listed on the AMHS calendar, with a 3:30 AM arrival and 6:30 AM departure set for the 29th.

One month later on November 25th the Malaspina will arrive at 7:30 PM and then make the return trip to Ketchikan at 10:30 PM

There has been no explanation offered to this point by the Alaska Marien Highway System, which does not even make mention of the sailings as part of their Service Notices Page, nor from the Alaska State Transportation portal.

Regular service between Prince Rupert and Ketchikan came to an end on September 30th, that after the State could not satisfy Homeland Security concerns over armed police backup in Prince Rupert.

Mayor Lee Brain's who had travelled to Juneau in September to try to reverse the decision to end the service, offered up a short statement through his Facebook page on Tuesday, noting that the two sailings are temporary in nature, but promising more information once further details become available.

You can review all of the background that led up to the termination of the service on September 30th from our archive page here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review.