The Alaska Marine Highway System's M/V LeConte was expected to depart Bellingham, WA last night, enroute
to Ketchikan following emergency repairs to its propulsion shafts at
Todd Shipyard in Seattle. LeConte will resume its published schedule
from Juneau on Sunday morning, sailing for Haines and Skagway at 9:00.
“We are especially pleased that the work in Seattle has been completed
in a timely manner, which has allowed us to get the LeConte back on
schedule on January 1,” said Captain John Falvey, AMHS General Manager.
“The repairs to the shaft couplings were expertly done, approved by the
American Bureau of
Shipping, and the vessel was certified for passenger
service by the Coast Guard in Bellingham today.”
Falvey said the shaft repairs were in line with AMHS engineering
estimates after the vessel was taken out of service in Sitka on December
5. The shipyard also made permanent repairs to damage done to the hull
on November 30, when the LeConte grazed the metal top of a piling in
Petersburg. This “allision” put a 10-12 inch gash in the forepeak of the
vessel, about 13-15 feet above the waterline. A temporary repair was
made in Juneau the next day.