(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) has scheduled the M/V Lituya to provide temporary service between Ketchikan and Hollis on Prince of Wales (POW) Island. On May 22, the Inter-Island Ferry Authority’s (IFA) M/V Prince of Wales suffered a catastrophic propulsion system failure. This failure left POW Island with limited options for travel and commerce.

“The IFA provides an important link between Ketchikan and POW, and we are happy to assist by providing some service until their ship is back in operation,” said Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner John MacKinnon. 

The AMHS vessel Lituya sailed round-trip from Ketchikan to Hollis on Thursday, May 28, and again on Saturday, May 30. Lituya will continue to provide limited service until the IFA vessel resumes service on June 11. Priority will be given to stranded travelers.

Quoting a news release from Ronald D. Curtis, General Manager Inter-Island Ferry Authority, "The IFA, in conjunction with our partners at the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), developed a limited sailing schedule to repatriate and serve IFA customers. The AMHS ship M/V Lituya will sail round-trip from Ketchikan to Hollis on Thursday, May 28, and Saturday, May 30. The Lituya will continue to provide limited service until the IFA is back in service – priority will be given to stranded travelers. No new bookings will take place until the backlog is cleared. To view the schedule and learn when new reservations open, check for updates on the IFA website. The IFA would like to thank our customers for their patience and thank the Alaska Marine Highway System for their assistance."

According to Curtis' news release, "The IFA anticipates a return to service on June 11. We realize that this has been a major inconvenience to our customers and supply chain partners so our team went to work immediately to find solutions for our customers.'

To view the schedule and make reservations visit the IFA website or call 866-308-4848.

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Interisland Ferry
http://www.interislandferry.com

Alaska Dept of Transportation
dot.alaska.gov

Representations of fact and opinions in comments posted are solely those of the individual posters and do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.

SitNews ©2020
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews are considered protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper freelance writers and subscription services. E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.