Alaska Marine Highway System Blues
Posted on March 8, 2008 by rogermaynard
The Palin administration has sent out clear signals that they’re not ferry-friendly. Where is the Alaska ferry system headed? Check out this week’s editorial cartoon in the Ketchikan Daily News.
This is where you can comment on this week’s editorial cartoon. Click on the image to see the full cartoon.
Filed under: Alaska Politics, Alaska cartoon, Ketchikan, Marine Highway System, Weekly Cartoon | Tagged: Alaska, cartoon, ferry, Ketchikan, marine highway, political, southeast alaska
Dear Mr. Maynard:
Your editorial cartoon in today’s Ketchikan Daily News about the lack of support from the Palin Administration for the Alaska Marine Highway System is spot on.
They have a complete lack of understanding and no desire to help the system. It is becoming evident that this administration is becoming the “Railbelt Administration” while the rest of the state languishes.
AMHS has served honorably and well since 1963. Even much maligned Governor Murkowski kept the ships running. The present administration wants AMHS to fade away so DOT can implement the various transportation plans calling for land highways and puddle jumping shuttle ferries.
As a citizen we must ask: What is easier? Putting my car on a ferry in Ketchikan and driving it off the next day in Juneau or Haines, or hop, skip and jump on roads, shuttle ferries and taking more time, especially in the winter. Anytime a transportation is made more difficult, it is not an improvement.
Thank you for your wonderful and truthful cartoon. I hope people will finally understand what is happening.
Yours truly, Captain Bill Hopkins, AMHS Ret.
Roger,
We live, island trapped in Ketchikan. The nearest port south is Prince Rupert and north is Wrangell. Real road access is in Canada at Prince Rupert.
In the last days in March, we were returning from a Spring Break holiday via the highway to Prince Rupert.
Some friends contacted us while we were in Canada and informed us that the Canadian Coast Guard had inspected the loading ramp and the facility was de-certified and pronounced unsafe or traffic.
The Alaska Ferry System (AMHS) responded by cancelling the next two scheduled voyages. We were stranded. So, oh well, what to do?
Wait or act.
First we thought of flying to Vancouver then Seattle to return to Ketchikan. (Get the car later.) We had our ninety pound aging dog with us. I know, he does not like to fly. This option was deems expensive and inconvenient.
Second, drive to Bellingham (800miles/ 16 hrs road time, and motel stays), the weekly single ferry was booked full. Not an option, too much time and expense.
Last and best option was to drive the Cassiar Highway to Whitehorse, Haines Junction and Haines and catch the ferry going south in 3 days.
We did this as waiting was not an option.
We had clients to see, a State of Alaska Jury Duty Summons, and tax returns to complete.
We made it back 3 days late and enjoyed the most glorious scenery Canada and Alaska has to offer in early spring. We are about $800 lighter. We had sometime to fellowship with Alaskan friends.
The system employees were kind and sympathetic to our situation. I appreciate that.
I take it all with a grain of sea salt, life is not always as planned. I am lucky, I try to plan for unforseen issues.
However, planning is the main issue here.
We took at least 10 voyages to Prince Rupert in the last 24 months and I had noticed that the condition of the docking facilities at the PR Ferry landing was in a deteriorating condition. So, what is up with the people that work and use these facilities all the time? How could they not notice the issue looming in the near future?
It is not rocket science, stuff that gets used, needs to be maintained. Maintenance is routine. It is part of the planning and capital spending needed to operate a functional service.
So, open your eyes folks and get the job done. We need some good management and the plug will not get pulled. As fingers point in every direction…..
The Mayor to Prince Rupert (dock owner) says he will have it fixed by May 26. I hope so, as a lot of folks that are not as lucky as me are heading this way this soon.
Jim Dahl
Ketchikan, Business Owner &Sailor