Fast Vehicle Ferry in Early for Lay-up

Two sailings for the M/V Fairweather, the state’s fast vehicle ferry, have been cancelled so that the ferry can be taken to Ketchikan for lay-up. Fairweather would normally have sailed to Haines and Skagway on Sunday, January 23, and to Sitka on Monday, January 24.

“We announced on January 3 that, without a new agreement with the maritime unions to allow the Fairweather to be economically operated through the winter season, we would cease operations on January 25,” said DOT&PF Commissioner Mike Barton. “In order to move the ferry to Ketchikan, where it is scheduled to be drydocked in mid-February, we will have to sail for Ketchikan on the 23rd . This will give us enough time to return crewmembers to Juneau by the 25th.

“Our negotiators did achieve a tentative agreement on the fast vehicle ferry with the Inlandboatmen’s Union, but the remaining two maritime unions have not yet been to the table,” Barton said.