Alaska Department Of Transportation News

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Thursday announced grants totaling $220.2 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize the nation’s ferry systems. The program focuses in part on expanding ferry service in rural communities, helping communities acquire modern ferry boats (including electric boats that reduce carbon pollution), and upgrading shore infrastructure to support high-quality, low-emission ferry service.“For many communities around the U.S.…

Two new routes have been designated under the U.S. Marine Highway Program (MHP), U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced this week during a visit to Alaska.The newly designated M-11 in Alaska will add over 6,500 miles to the marine highway system, and the M-79 route extends the reach of the Ohio River system by nearly 250 miles in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. These designations allow any eligible applicant on these routes to apply for future U.S. Marine Highway Program grants…

Hubbard, a new ferry built in 2019 for Alaska's Marine Highway System (AMHS), was formally christened this week after a change of plans put the vessel's entry into service on hold.The vessel is the second of two Alaska class ferries designed by Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group and constructed at Vigor Shipyard in Ketchikan, Alaska. Construction of both vessels began in October 2014. The series' first ferry, Tazlina, was christened in 2018, and Hubbard was completed in 2019.Intended to operate as day boats to serve the AMHS Lynn Canal route between Juneau…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced $384.4 million in federal funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for expanding and improving the nation’s ferry service in communities across the country, as well as accelerate the transition to zero emission transportation.In total, FTA is awarding 23 grants across 11 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Grants will fund projects including replacement of old vessels, expand fleets, and build new terminals and docks.

Thordon Bearings has received an order to supply its COMPAC system to two Alaska Ferry newbuilds under construction at the Vigor Industrial shipyard in Ketchikan, Alaska. The Canada-based company, a supplier of seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearings, will deliver the Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant (EAL)-compliant COMPAC propeller shaft bearing system for shaft diameters of 267mm (10.5”). Thordon has a strong history with Alaskan State Ferries with its seawater lubricated bearings installed on the Matanuska, Tustumena and Kennicott. Both of the twin-screw, 85m (280ft.) long Alaska-class ferries will have the capacity to carry 300 passengers and 53 standard vehicles and feature fully enclosed vehicle decks with bow and stern doors for quicker loading/unloading.

Thordon Bearings has received an order to supply its COMPAC system to two Alaska Ferry newbuilds under construction at the Vigor Industrial shipyard in Ketchikan, Alaska. The Canada-based company, a supplier of seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearings, will deliver the Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant (EAL)-compliant COMPAC propeller shaft bearing system for shaft diameters of 267mm. The twin-screw, 280ft long Alaska-class ferries will each have capacity to carry 300 passengers…

Over the past several months, FVF Chenega, a high-speed car ferry in the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) fleet, was repowered with four new MTU Series 4000 engines. In April, the project was completed with two days of successful sea trials in Seattle. Engineers from MTU America Inc., a Rolls-Royce Power Systems company, along with members of the Chenega’s crew and other AMHS representatives ran the ship through a series of extensive performance and endurance tests on Puget Sound. The results of the tests were positive, according to the crew and the engineering team.

The Canadian government signed an order on Monday blocking the United States from applying controversial "Buy America" purchasing rules on the demolition and reconstruction of a ferry terminal that is located on Canada's Pacific Coast but operated by Alaska's Department of Transportation. The U.S. federal rules are designed to protect U.S. companies from foreign competition in transportation infrastructure projects. The state of Alaska has refused to waive the provisions for the $15 million rebuild of the Prince Rupert, British Columbia, ferry terminal although the project is solidly in Canadian territory. Canada is fighting back by invoking rarely used anti-sanction laws to prevent bidders on the project from agreeing to use only U.S.-made iron and steel.

Rolls-Royce has been selected by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, via its Alaska Marine Highway System, and Vigor Industrial, to provide a highly efficient propulsion system for its future Alaska Class ferries that will be built by Vigor Shipyards in Ketchikan, Alaska. The two Alaska Class ferries will feature a range of Rolls-Royce technology, including reduction gearboxes, tunnel thrusters and steering gears. A Rolls-Royce Promas propulsion system, which integrates controllable pitch propellers and rudders, will increase fuel efficiency and enhance manoeuvrability. "What is also exciting about this contract is that it represents the first time a ferry operator in North America will utilize our Promas integrated propeller and rudder system…

The new Alaska Marine Highway System ferries, to be built by Vigor Industrial, will feature Rolls-Royce propulsion systems. Rolls-Royce has been selected by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, via its Alaska Marine Highway System, and Vigor Industrial, to provide propulsion systems for its future Alaska Class ferries that will be built by Vigor Shipyards in Ketchikan, Alaska. The two Alaska Class ferries will feature a range of Rolls-Royce technology, including reduction gearboxes, tunnel thrusters and steering gears.

Rolls-Royce has been selected by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, via its Alaska Marine Highway System, and Vigor Industrial, to provide a highly efficient propulsion system for its future Alaska Class ferries that will be built by Vigor Shipyards in Ketchikan, Alaska. The two Alaska Class ferries will feature a range of Rolls-Royce technology, including reduction gearboxes, tunnel thrusters and steering gears. A Rolls-Royce Promas propulsion system, which integrates controllable pitch propellers and rudders, will increase fuel efficiency and enhance manoeuvrability. “What is also exciting about this contract is that it represents the first time a ferry operator in North America will utilize our Promas integrated propeller and rudder system…

Announced by Governor Sean Parnell Saturday, September 20, the State of Alaska and Vigor Industrial have reached a final agreement to construct two Alaska Class Ferries at Vigor Alaska in Ketchikan. The vessels will be the first Alaska Marine Highway System ferries to be built in Alaska. “Here we are today to launch this shipyard to a new level, a new level of good jobs, a new level of growth for Ketchikan businesses that are going to supply the shipyard and its workers,” Governor…

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a naval architecture and marine engineering firm based in Seattle with offices in New Orleans and Ketchikan, took part in the Alaska Construction Career Days & Maritime Trades on October 14 to foster enthusiasm for future careers in ship design and engineering. The firm, which opened its Alaska office in September, said it is committed to expanding Ketchikan's burgeoning maritime sector and sees this event as a step in that direction. EBDG's representatives at the event included Lydia Benger and Curt Leffers…

On April 2, Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc. and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough christened the MV Ken Eichner‐2 as the Borough’s second ferry providing service to the Greater Ketchikan International Airport and entering service as the sister ship to the MV Oral Freeman. Both ships were built by Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc. (ASD) and are registered as Hull No’s 001 and 004 respectively for the Ketchikan based Shipbuilder. The project was funded through state legislative appropriations sponsored by Senator Bert Stedman and Representative Kyle Johansen.

A new maintenance company with no shipyard experience takes a struggling repair yard, converted from an old cannery, and transforms it into a success story. Alaska Ship & Drydock (ASD) is on its way to achieving its vision of becoming the maritime support center for the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. The yard’s story is tied to the economic development in Southeast Alaska and its turning point came with the construction of the MV Susitna, the first ice strengthened twin hull ferry, commissioned by the Office of Naval Research.

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.

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.

Representative Woodie Salmon from Beaver on the Yukon River would like to see state ferry routes expanded to that historic Interior Alaska waterway. Ktva.com reported that expanding the Alaska Marine Highway System to communities on the Yukon River would boost their economies and foster tourism. Salmon's House Bill 432 calls for the Alaska Department of Transportation to study ferry travel on the Yukon. The bill claims that summertime barge service on the Yukon is slow and infrequent with many communities taking deliveries once or twice per summer. With regular ferry service, the bill suggests, villagers would have another option for…

Conrad Industries emerged as the winner to build a new ferry for the high profile customers Alaska Marine Highway. AMH sees the signing as the ushering in of a new era in marine transportation for the community of Metlakatla with the signing of the contract. The new vessel will provide dedicated service between Metlakatla and Ketchikan, two of the Inside Passage's southernmost communities. Southeast Region Director, Bob Doll, represented the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities at the signing ceremony. "This ferry means better service to the communities of Metlakatla and Ketchikan and less cost to the State of Alaska." The detailed design for the Metlakatla ferry was performed by Pat Eberhardt, P.E. of Coastwise Engineering, Juneau under contract to the State of Alaska.

Conrad Industries emerged as the winner to build a new ferry for the high profile customers Alaska Marine Highway. AMH sees the signing as the ushering in of a new era in marine transportation for the community of Metlakatla with the signing of the contract. The new vessel will provide dedicated service between Metlakatla and Ketchikan, two of the Inside Passage's southernmost communities. Southeast Region Director, Bob Doll , represented the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities at the signing ceremony on November 12, 2002. "This ferry means better service to the communities of Metlakatla and Ketchikan and less cost to the State of Alaska. That's one of the objectives of the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan.

The Alaska Marine Highway ushered in a new era in marine transportation for the community of Metlakatla with the signing of a contract to between the Department of Transportation and Conrad Industries of Morgan City, LA to build a new ferry. The new vessel will provide dedicated service between Metlakatla and Ketchikan, two of the Inside Passage’s southernmost communities. Southeast Region Director, Bob Doll , represented the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities at the signing ceremony on November 12, 2002. "This ferry means better service to the communities of Metlakatla and Ketchikan and less cost to the State of Alaska. That’s one of the objectives of the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan.

When Austal Ltd. of Henderson, Western Australia, started looking last year for a CEO to lead its U.S.-based operations, the job description must have been daunting. They wanted a leader to take the helm of their newly built shipyard in Mobile, Ala., and turn it into a major contractor for both military and commercial vessels in the United States. Austal had recently entered the U.S. market for the first time, intent on competing with higher-profile rivals such as Incat/Bollinger, Derecktor Shipyards and Kvaerner. The company settled on Alan Lerchbacker, 50, an energetic former Navy Aquanaut with a business background, who took the position in February 2002. Lerchbacker had never heard of Austal until a headhunter contacted him.

Derecktor Shipyards held a plate cutting ceremony at its Bridgeport Connecticut facility for the first piece of plate cut for the highspeed ferry M/V Chenega. the ferry. foot high-speed ferries for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Chenega, were City Councilman Gary Graham and Kate Tesar. Bridgeport Port Authority. connecting the ports of Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier. 2004 with the M/V Chenega expected to enter service one year later. with airline-style seating, an available snack bar, and minimal ship motions. will be significantly shorter than what is possible with conventional ferries. these communities. shipbuilding since these will be the first vessels of their kind ever built in this country. designs, developed expressly for the Alaska project.