(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Independent candidate for Alaska Governor Bill Walker is calling on Governor Parnell to make a final decision to build the new Alaska Class Ferries in Ketchikan.

Walker said, "Ever since the Parnell administration made a decision in 2012 - with zero public input - to change the concept for new ferries from one that would serve all of Southeast Alaska for years to come to one serving Lynn Canal only, there has been delay after delay in doing one simple thing: pledging that the state administration will do everything possible to assure that Alaskan ferries are built in Alaska with Alaskan workers."

Ketchikan Shipyard
Photograph courtesy VIGOR Industrial, Ketchikan

During a visit to Ketchikan in December 2012, Governor Sean Parnell announced that the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) will pursue plans to build two smaller, less costly Alaska Class Ferries, rather than one large Alaska Class Ferry orginally planned. The governor announced the new direction after it became apparent during the design phase that building a 350-foot ferry on budget, in Alaska, could not be accomplished.

All indications are the ferries will be built by Vigor Alaska which operates the Ketchikan Shipyard, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Deputy Commissioner Reuben Yost told the Alaska Senate Transportation Committee April 15, 2014.

The award of the shipyard contract was originally projected to be in the Spring of 2014. However, the release of the Request for Proposals was delayed with the release to the Ketchikan Shipyard in early August 2014 by the Alaska Department of Transportation.

Doug Ward, director of shipyard development for Vigor Alaska, which owns the Ketchikan Shipyard, told SitNews today that Vigor Alaska is coming up with the final numbers for the project and has been working with the state.

Ward added, the project has not yet been finalized by the state which means there remains a possibility that the ferries may not be built in Ketchikan.

As part of the contract with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, the Ketchikan Shipyard would have the ability to submit the first price proposal for the construction contract. If the price the Ketchikan Shipyard submits is acceptable to DOT&PF, a contract would be initiated with the Ketchikan Shipyard to construct the vessels. If a price could not be agreed upon the state would advertise the project for competitive bids which would allow firms located outside of Alaska an opportunity to construct the vessels.

The next step, once a decision is made, would be to draw up the final contract with the builder selected. If the cost projections submitted by the Ketchikan Shipyard are accepted, the final decision by the DOT/PF could be this month, September.

Walker said, "What has been needed since the unilateral concept change in December 2012 is action, not delay after delay." He said, "The time is past to know whether or not there is a genuine desire to use the highly skilled shipyard workers at Vigor Alaska in Ketchikan. DOT's revised project schedule calls for a shipyard contract to be awarded in the Spring of 2014. That was nearly 6 months ago. There is no excuse for this delay and no explanation has been offered. I sincerely hope that the livelihoods of these workers and their families have not hung in the balance to make way for big announcements during this election season."

Walker said, "While I appreciate the Governor's insistence that the construction for these new vessels must comply with what has been appropriated to date, I am concerned that this restriction is based upon an outdated budget estimate. Furthermore, there has been no explanation as to why the Governor and Alaska DOT have chosen to single out and apply these restrictions to these Alaska Marine Highway projects but not to other transportation projects being advocated by DOT. Alaska deserves an answer."

"Southeast Alaskan communities have long been connected by an extensive ferry system. Large ferries are relied upon to safely navigate and haul people, vehicles and goods between communities," said Walker. "In 2012, the Parnell administration decided- with no input from the public nor his own Marine Transportation Advisory Board- against replacement of these 1960's era vessels in favor of adding two shuttle ferries to the AMHS fleet that are only suitable to service Lynn Canal rather than all of Southeast Alaska and other communities served by the AMHS system."

When completed, each Alaska Class dayboat will carry up to 300 passengers and about 50 vehicles.

On the Web:

Fequently Asked Questions Day Boat Alaska Class Ferries
http://www.dot.alaska.gov/amhs/alaska_class/faq.shtml

Source of News: 

Walker/Mallott Campaign
billwalkerforgovernor.com

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

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

Source of Photograph:

Vigor Alaska - Ketchikan Shipyard
http://vigorindustrial.com

SitNews ©2014
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

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