Negotiators for the State of Alaska have reached a tentative agreement with the largest of the three maritime unions representing crewmembers of the M/V Fairweather, the state’s fast vehicle ferry. Agreement was reached earlier this week with the Inlandboatmens Union (IBU) on a three-year contract. Contract talks have continued with the IBU after the state declared an impasse in negotiations in December. Terms of the tentative agreement are not being released, but negotiators said the state has entered into a letter of agreement with the IBU that allows winter operations of the Fairweather to continue, provided similar agreements can be reached with two other unions representing ferry workers.