(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - After docking in Bellingham, WA early in this morning, the Alaska Marine Highway System’s M/V Columbia crew discovered black smoke in the vessel’s bow thruster room. No flames were visible. AMHS immediately deployed a fixed CO2 firefighting system and evacuated the vessel.

All passengers are accounted for and there were no injuries.

AMHS is investigating the source of the smoke. Updates will be made as information is available and all passengers will be notified should the Columbia needs to change sailing schedule. 

As of 5PM Friday, the current schedule still lists departure time from Bellingham, WA to Ketchikan, AK as 6:00 PM.

MV Columbia is the largest vessel of the fleet, and until 2004 was also the fastest. The vessel is 418 feet long and 85 feet wide, with a domestic gross tonnage of 3,946 and a service speed of 17.3 knots.

The MV Columbia is designed to carry 499 passengers and has a vehicle capacity of 2,660 linear feet, which is equal to approximately 133 twenty-foot vehicles. There are 45 four-berth and 56 two-berth cabins, as well as 3 wheelchair-accessible cabins.

On the Web:

M/V Columbia's Sailing Schedule

M/V Columbia Active June 29, 2018 Status

 

Reporting and Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.ak.us

 

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