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John Falvey News

07 Dec 2004

Derecktor-built Ferry to be Christened

The wife of Alaska’s senior senator Ted Stevens, is scheduled to christen Alaska's latest fast ferry at the Derecktor Shipyard in Bridgeport, Conn. The ship -- M/V Chenega -- is scheduled to begin service in Alaska’s Prince William Sound in late spring. Designed by Nigel Gee and built by Derecktor Shipyard, the vessel is the second aluminum passenger and vehicle carrying catamaran built for the state. Once it is put into service, it will provide daily service between its homeport of Cordova and the surface highway accessible communities of Valdez and Whittier -- at travel times of almost half those of most Alaska Marine Highway vessels.

10 Jan 2005

New Alaskan Fast Ferry Christened at Derecktor

The wife of Alaska’s senior senator Ted Stevens, christened Alaska’s second fast ferry at the Derecktor Shipyard in Bridgeport, Conn. The ship -- M/V Chenega -- is scheduled to begin service in Alaska’s Prince William Sound in late spring. Designed by Nigel Gee and built by Derecktor Shipyard, the vessel is the second aluminum passenger and vehicle carrying catamaran built for the state. Once it is put into service, it will provide daily service between its homeport of Cordova and the surface highway accessible communities of Valdez and Whittier -- at travel times of almost half those of most Alaska Marine Highway vessels. The name Chenega was nominated by sixth grader Emily Oskolkoff of Ninilchik School in the Kenai School District who won a Statewide Essay contest to name the new ferry.

07 Mar 2005

MV Chenega to be Delayed

In an expectation that the delivery of the state’s second fast vehicle ferry, M/V Chenega, will likely be delayed until late April or even May 1, the Alaska Marine Highway System decided to schedule the M/V Aurora for Prince William Sound service from May 15-June 30. AMHS reservations operators began taking reservations for the Aurora on February 22. “The latest word we have from Derecktor Shipyards in Bridgeport, Conn., is that, due to problems with the shipyard’s electrical subcontractor, delays have been incurred with the equipment testing, dockside and sea trials. The Chenega will not be delivered until late April or as late as May 1,” said AMHS General Manager John Falvey.

13 May 2005

M/V Taku has Mechanical Problem

Taku has not been able to leave Ketchikan, due to mechanical problems. problem. from Juneau will not be able to do so at this time. Falvey, AMHS general manager. sea trials with that vessel on Friday. southbound. has been affected by these delays,” he said. are now in the midst of, we are working 24-7 to resolve those problems. the work we require of them.

10 May 2005

Engine Problem Shelves Alaskan Ferry

not make its northbound schedule. pick up the Columbia’s northbound passengers and car deck load. depart Wrangell at 10:30 a.m. arrive in Juneau on Tuesday at 10 p.m. cross-Gulf voyage to Yakutat, Valdez, and Seward on Wednesday at 1:30 a.m. rebuild of both of the Columbia’s massive Enterprise engines. starboard engine,” Falvey said. Ketchikan. not available. be activated in late September. service and depart Ketchikan for Juneau Tuesday night at 6 p.m. said. car deck space for 134 average-sized vehicles. passengers, with 44 staterooms, and a car deck for 69 vehicles. service in 1974. The camshaft repair is covered under warranty. for exact departure times for the Kennicott.

27 Jul 2005

M/V Chenega Sets Sails

Whittier. 26, following nearly a month of crew and route training. System. said. training for the vessel, which should wrap-up by August 12. the ports she will serve in Prince William Sound. benefit is in getting the training taken care of this summer. right away,” he said. 250 passengers and 35 average sized vehicles. a 60 ft. beam and an 8 ft. draft. driving four Kamewa waterjets. speed of 42 knots. It was constructed by Derektor Shipyards of Bridgeport, Connecticut at a cost of $38 million.

03 Jul 2006

M/V Columbia Experiences Generator Problem

The M/V Columbia experienced a malfunction in one of its four generators that resulted in a fire while it was transiting Seymour Narrows on Saturday causing the ship to lose power to one of its two engines. The Columbia was escorted to Duncan Bay by a tug and crews ran assessments of its operating systems before Transport Canada the mCanadian Transport Safety Board cleared the ship to proceed to Ketchikan. The ship left Duncan Bay under full power at about 8 a.m. Saturday and is expected to arrive in Ketchikan at about 11 a.m. on Sunday. Passengers were given the ‘all clear’ signal over the intercom within two minutes of an alarm sounding and were kept informed through periodic updates through the night, said AMHS General Manager John Falvey.

30 Mar 2006

LeConte To Continue Operating Until May

when a U.S. change its operations. The Coast Guard has again extended the deadline. month to comply. Gold Medal basketball tournament. on the LeConte’s current route. “We are working with the U.S. AMHS General Manager Capt. John Falvey. periods for LeConte crewmembers. on how it will comply with staffing restrictions.

10 Feb 2006

Fairweather Out With Engine Problems

until mid-April due to a problem with all four of its MTU diesel engines. said Captain John Falvey, AMHS General Manager. The MTU diesels are manufactured in Germany and use an aluminum block. down. cylinder, in which the pistons move up and down. hairline cracking has not been determined. problem was diagnosed. to a manufacturer’s defect. current breakdown will be covered by warranty.

30 Dec 2005

LeConte Reenters Service

Todd Shipyard in Seattle. from Juneau on Sunday morning, sailing for Haines and Skagway at 9:00. schedule on January 1,” said Captain John Falvey, AMHS General Manager. Petersburg. vessel, about 13-15 feet above the waterline. made in Juneau the next day.

23 Dec 2005

LeConte Shaft Repairs Nearly Complete

Seattle, is expected to return to its regular route in early January. The vessel will add a January 6 stop at Pelican to its schedule. shafts in Seattle,” said Captain John Falvey, AMHS General Manager. on the shafts being worn. the 26th , with the vessel sailing for Bellingham on the 27th . schedule would depend on when it gets here. stop in Pelican on January 6. Falvey said. “Unfortunately, stormy weather prevented that sailing. before the LeConte’s shaft problem became apparent.

09 May 2006

M/V Malaspina Aids Stranded Fishing Vessel

Four stranded fishermen were aided by the M/V Malaspina Sunday night after their fishing vessel ran aground southwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The M/V Malaspina responded to a mayday call from the F/V Alaska Queen. The F/V Alaska Queen was stranded on the north east side of Pitt Island, southwest of Prince Rupert. The M/V Malaspina deviated from its course, and was the first ship on the scene. The Malaspina launched a fast rescue boat and stood by the four stranded fishermen for approximately 45 minutes, until the Canadian Coast Guard arrived on scene, and released the Malaspina. At the time of the mayday response, the Malaspina was south bound from Ketchikan bound for Bellingham, Wash. AMHS General Manager Capt. John Falvey.

17 Nov 2005

M/V LeConte Delayed in Returning to Service

The M/V LeConte will be late returning to its schedule in northern Southeast Alaska due to a one-day delay in finishing up work on the vessel’s annual overhaul in Ketchikan. LeConte will begin sea trials with the U.S. Coast Guard for its re-certification on Thursday morning. Its exact time to return to service depends on the results of the sea trials, as well as tides in Wrangell Narrows. “We cut the vessel’s normal six-week overhaul to five weeks, and have not quite made that goal,” said Capt. John Falvey, general manager of the Alaska Marine Highway System. “We have provided good coverage with our vessels and contract vessels of the LeConte’s route, all except for Pelican, which had its last visit in early October.

17 Nov 2005

M/V LeConte Delayed in Returning to Service

The M/V LeConte will be late returning to its schedule in northern Southeast Alaska due to a one-day delay in finishing up work on the vessel’s annual overhaul in Ketchikan. LeConte will begin sea trials with the U.S. Coast Guard for its re-certification on Thursday morning. Its exact time to return to service depends on the results of the sea trials, as well as tides in Wrangell Narrows. “We cut the vessel’s normal six-week overhaul to five weeks, and have not quite made that goal,” said Capt. John Falvey, general manager of the Alaska Marine Highway System. “We have provided good coverage with our vessels and contract vessels of the LeConte’s route, all except for Pelican, which had its last visit in early October.