 August 20, 2004
The MV Stikine will be the IFA's second ferry. It will be a sister ship to the MV Prince of Wales, which went into service on the Hollis-Ketchikan run in January 2002. The new vessel is to be delivered in the spring of 2006 and will be deployed on the IFA's northern route, providing service between Coffman Cove, Wrangell and Petersburg. Funding for the MV Stikine will come from federal sources with a state match, said Watson. During the two years and seven months that the IFA has been in operation, traffic between Hollis and Ketchikan has steadily increased, stated IFA operations manager Stu Vincent. In the twelve months through July the IFA- carried 60,576 passengers, up 8.9% from 2003, and 15,538 vehicles, up 6.8%. Complimenting IFA ferry service is the recent upgrading and paving of island roads between Klawock, Control Lake and Thorne Bay, and north from Control Lake to the Coffman Cove turn-off. These additions to the paved surfaces linking Hollis, Hydaburg, Klawock and Craig bring a total of 110 miles of surfaced roads on the island. The Coffman Cove road is presently being realigned, with paving planned in 2006. Daily IFA service between Ketchikan and Hollis has attracted growing numbers of visitors to Prince of Wales Island. It is anticipated that implementation of northern route service will result in further increases to the island, said Vincent. The deadline for submittal of proposals for the MV Stikine is October 1, 2004.
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