AMHS looks to quash rumours on fate of Prince Rupert to Ketchikan ferry service

Ferry service through the Fairview dock for AMHS
between Prince Rupert and Ketchikan  remains in limbo
as the ferry service continues to  address equipment and staffing issues

We may not have heard much yet from Mayor Herb Pond, City staffers or those officials from the Port of Prince Rupert who travelled north to Ketchikanlast week, 

But one item seems likely to have been on the agenda for discussions and that is the status of the Marine Transportation link between Prince Rupert and and the Alaskan city.

While the notes on the most recent trip are light, a previous visit by Mayor Pond in July provided for an interview with Public radio on the theme of the ferry service.

Still while it seems a conversation piece, the resumption of service still seems a fair bit off.

The AMHS released their Fall and Winter Schedule in August, and while their Fairview Bay facility is still on their route map, Prince Rupert was once again not part of the plans for transits this year.  

As it has been for much of the year, the lack of a suitable vessel by the Marine Highway is the main reason behind the still stalled service resumption.

The desire for a return of at least a weekly sailing is still of much interest for officials in coastal communities in the Alaskan panhandle and they have a strong champion for their cause in a former elected official.

Former Governor Frank Murkowski recently submitted a piece for local media in Alaska noting of the importance of the Prince Rupert - Ketchikan route, it has also been a significant focus point for elected and business officials in Ketchikan.

A key passage from the former Governor's letter availble here, highlights the major impact that reliable ferry service had for both Prince Rupert and Southeast Alaska.

"In the last few years, the state Department of Transportation appears to have lost enthusiasm for the Prince Rupert run. This once thriving route connected Alaskans to the Lower 48, bringing tourism and trade, but regular service ended in 2019. 

The Matanuska, with the necessary repairs, could restore the twice-weekly runs from Prince Rupert up through Southeast Alaska. 

This service would be a major contribution to the Southeast communities which lack any highway connection and must rely on the ferries for passenger and vehicle transportation. When I was governor, the ferry system in Southeast enjoyed a traffic flow of 372,000 passengers in 2006. 

Today, that average is less than 100,000." 

The last few weeks have seemingly seen a number of social media rumours up and down the Alaska coastline start to percolate about what many consider a vital link for Alaskans to the rest of North America.

Such has been the rumour concerns, that the AMHS issued its own statement this weekend to try to knock down some of the growing issue.

You can review some of the summer themes and those moving into the fall for both BC Ferries and the Alaska Marine Highway System from our archive page here.