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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2009 19:47:37 GMT -8
When we came South from Skagway on the Columbia, 4 years ago, we had 2 stops where we went ashore. Sitka, while we waited for slack water @ Sturgess (?) Narrows on the way out and Ketchikan. All other stops were pick - up and drop -off only. If you get time to go ashore that would be neat.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Aug 14, 2009 14:47:33 GMT -8
In today's Juneau Empire. juneauempire.com/stories/081409/loc_481687437.shtmlFast ferries proving to be unreliableAlaska Marine Highway System looks at new class of vessels for the future By Pat Forgey | JUNEAU EMPIRE The Marine Transportation Advisory Board will seek millions in additional dollars for its vessel replacement fund, while Alaska Marine Highway System officials are increasingly being confronted with problems of broken down boats disrupting schedules. The fleet is predominately older vessels, some more than 40 years old facing increasing maintenance costs, but it is often its newest ships that are crippled with mechanical flaws, ferry managers said. The Fast Vehicle Ferry Fairweather has been plagued by engine breakdowns recently, and some ferry officials are expressing doubts about whether the technologically advanced but delicate fast ferries can be used in the future. "They're like trying to keep a Ferrari running as your family car," said Capt. John Falvey, general manager of the Alaska Marine Highway System. Falvey spoke to the Marine Transportation Advisory Board at its meeting Thursday in Juneau, and expressed doubts about the continued usefulness of the Fairweather, one of the fleet's two catamaran-style fast ferries. "Its future is somewhat cloudy," Falvey said. The Fairweather often operates out of Juneau in Lynn Canal and to Sitka, while its sister, the FVF Chenega, has been operating in Prince William Sound. They were built in 2004 and are the newest in the AMHS fleet. The two fast ferries can reach 40 miles per hour, and significantly cut travel times, but at a high cost to operate. They've also not been dependable, with non-standard engines proving unreliable, and needing custom-made replacement parts shipped from overseas. The Fairweather has been out of service repeatedly. "That vessel has operating challenges," Falvey said. While the Fairweather has had most of the problems so far, the Chenega is of the same design and has the same engines, Falvey said. "That boat has challenges, too, we just don't know the extent of that yet," he said. The Fairweather will be going in this winter for an extensive overhaul, and Falvey said he wasn't sure what they were going to find, but would try to have it back in service by its scheduled date of May 1. MTAB member Patrick Owen of Juneau, a retired ferry crew member, called the fast ferries a "political mistake." The two fast ferries consume fuel at a high rate, and were built at a time when fuel prices were significantly lower. Most of the state's other ferries are much older, and while Falvey said they've been well maintained over the years, they are extremely old by vessel standards. "Most ships that are 40-plus years old aren't even around any more," Falvey said. The AMHS plans to design and build a new mid-sized ferry it is calling the "Alaska-class ferry," which it hopes will become the long-term workhorse of the fleet, efficiently handling many of the shorter runs. "This is a very conventional ship that we're building, nothing fancy," he said. The Alaska-class ferries will be more fuel efficient and take fewer crew to operate, reducing costs, ferry officials said. The ferry system is currently in the design phase of the construction program, and expects the designs to be done and ready to go out for bid by the end of March. The MTAB on Thursday decided to send a letter to Gov. Sean Parnell seeking additional money for the ferry system's vessel replacement fund. The fund currently holds $60 million, and board members said they'd like to see another $60 million to fund the possible $120 million construction cost. Falvey and Deputy Commissioner Jim Beedle said they won't know for sure what the new ferry will cost until the design is compete and it is bid out. MTAB chair Mike Korsmo of Skagway said the state needed to get the new vessel ready to fund and build, as the construction was expected to take 4 to 6 years. "We've got to get a move on it," he said. Korsmo took over as chair at the meeting, replacing Juneau's Cathie Roemmich, who led the board since it was re-created by then-Gov. Sarah Palin early in her term. Roemmich then successfully urged the Legislature to create the board in statute, instead of by executive order, so it would live on past Palin. • Contact reporter Pat Forgey at patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Aug 14, 2009 18:19:04 GMT -8
Four engine fast boats have never worked. Even Stena's HSS craft had only two engines yet we put four engines into our northwest fast ferries. Why exactly is what I want to know.
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Post by Barnacle on Aug 15, 2009 6:44:44 GMT -8
Four engine fast boats have never worked. Even Stena's HSS craft had only two engines yet we put four engines into our northwest fast ferries. Why exactly is what I want to know. Because the engineer in charge of the project for WSF was not a naval architect, according to rumor; he was reportedly a bridge engineer. The story is that either he liked the idea of redundancy or he felt that the 28 knots produced by two engines wasn't fast enough to make the run viable.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Aug 22, 2009 3:36:08 GMT -8
Alright, I'm sure there is a better place for this, but, being lazy this morning, it's going here. marinelink.com/en-US/News/Article/331626.aspx Capilano Designs 23-Car Ro-Ro FerryCapilano Maritime Design Ltd. has been awarded the design contract for a 23-car, 149-passenger Ro-Ro Ferry to replace the Bob Ellis currently being utilized by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough in Ketchikan Alaska. The vessel will be built at Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc., also located in Ketchikan. The new ferry will be delivered to the State of Alaska in 2011. Principal Particulars: Overall Length 116.5 ft Breadth 48 ft Depth 12 ft Design Draft 8 ft Passengers 149 Vehicles 23 AEQ Capilano Maritime is a naval architecture and marine engineering design firm based in North Vancouver, BC, Canada. The firm is co-owned by Chris Mulder, P.Eng, and Mark Mulligan, P.Eng. They have a combined work experience of more than 50 years in naval architecture design, towing company operations, and ship building. Capilano Maritime specializes in the design of commercial workboats including tugs, barges, crewboats, marine construction vessels and small ferries, as well as providing general consulting services to the marine industry.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 20, 2009 10:56:20 GMT -8
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Sept 22, 2009 23:38:36 GMT -8
We had a Captain retire recently (actually a few...) but for some reason, the brass decided to put out a press release for this one. He spent most of his career working aboard the LeConte, and I was privileged to be able to work with/under him. He is truly missed on board. Juneau Man, AMHS Skipper Retires After 34-Year Career(JUNEAU, Alaska) – Juneau resident and longtime Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) Capt. Ronald Bressette recently retired following a 34-year career. Bressette began his AMHS career in 1975, ascending to the rank of captain before retiring as a master aboard the 235-foot ferry LeConte. “Captain Bressette’s professional performance helped AMHS to keep to the course - to become the unique transportation system that it is today,” said Jim Beedle, Deputy Commissioner of Marine Operations, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. A picture is included in the press release: www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/documents/press_box/pr_09_25141.pdf
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Sept 23, 2009 0:44:17 GMT -8
Also, the Tustumena has been in the news a few times... First: AMHS Delays Tustumena’s Kodiak DepartureStormy Weather Could Bring Strong Winds to Area (JUNEAU, Alaska) – The Alaska Marine Highway System will delay the ferry Tustumena’s departure tonight from Kodiak due to potentially strong winds currently forecasted for the area beginning later tonight. Tustumena and its crew will now sail from Kodiak Thursday at 10 p.m., en route Homer. The ship is expected to moor there at 10 a.m., Friday. The ship was originally scheduled to depart Kodiak tonight at 10 p.m. The National Weather Service in Anchorage is calling for winds exceeding 45 mph early Thursday evening. ---------- Followed by: AMHS to Remedy Tustumena’s Mechanical MalfunctionDOT&PF Expects Delay in Ship’s Schedule (JUNEAU, Alaska) – Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) crews are trying to resolve a mechanical problem aboard the ferry Tustumena today which has temporarily sidelined the 45-year-old ship in Homer. The ship experienced an unspecified vehicle lift malfunction Sunday night while offloading in Seldovia. Currently, the ship and its crew remain in Homer awaiting a U.S. Coast Guard inspector’s approval for sailing. It’s not yet clear when the ship’s repairs will be concluded or when the ship will return to full service, but the AMHS doesn’t expect a lengthy ship’s delay. Updated sailing information will be posted to the AMHS schedule change website at: www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/schedule_changes.shtml . The AMHS employees more than 1,000 Alaskans with 11 ships serving 32 coast communities along the Alaska coastline, British Columbia and Washington State. --------- and finally... Crews Complete Tustumena Repairs, Ship Returns to Service(JUNEAU, Alaska) — Crews have completed repairs to the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferry Tustumena, and the ship is once again sailing. The ship experienced a vehicle lift malfunction Sept. 14 while offloading in Seldovia, requiring the ship and its crew to travel to Homer for repairs. After four new lift cables were installed aboard the ship Sept. 18, Coast Guard officials inspected the 45-year-old ferry and authorized it to sail. Tustumena departed Homer Saturday on its 10-hour trek to Port Lions with a subsequent stop in Kodiak and Aleutian Chain port calls in Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan and Unalaska. The ship will travel eastbound beginning Wednesday, departing Dutch Harbor at 6 a.m. More schedule information for AMHS ferries is available online at www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/schedules.shtml . --------- I have been told that the "vehicle lift malfunction" was caused by one of the vehicle elevator cables parting (sailor speak for breaking). Fortunately, no one was injured and they were able to make complete repairs quickly. Here are a few photos of the Tusty and an "interesting" loading to give you an idea of the vehicle elevator. Not my photos, all of these are from my wife's "collection." A side shot: The Elevator as viewed from the Dock: A vehicle drives onto the Elevator from the Dock: Once on the Elevator, the vehicle is lowered down to the Car Deck: The White past and above the truck is the hatch that covers the elevator opening while the ship is underway. The Elevator is then lowered onto a turntable: The turntable then pivots to a fore and aft position, and the vehicle can then be driven to where it parks.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Sept 23, 2009 3:51:58 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 23, 2009 4:37:02 GMT -8
Mr. LeConte: Thanks for those great posts from early this morning. I especially enjoyed the Tustumena's elevator pictures and the link to the file of AMHS terminal pictures.
Cheers!
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 23, 2009 9:16:57 GMT -8
Mr. LeConte: Thanks for those great posts from early this morning. I especially enjoyed the Tustumena's elevator pictures and the link to the file of AMHS terminal pictures. Cheers! I agree. It's nice to see new and unique photos. Those are nice and refreshing and definitely something we don't get to see that often, so photos like that are priceless to us when we do see them.
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 27, 2009 14:00:54 GMT -8
In the latter part of August I took a trip on AMHS's M/V Taku from Wrangell, Alaska, to Prince Rupert, BC. I 'reported' on that (complete with several photos) previously in the solo trips thread: ferriesbc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gt&action=display&thread=4411&page=2 - see reply #35. While on that trip I used my GPS to record the track for most of the route between Wrangell and Ketchikan. Here is a map and some stats on what I recorded... More information: Track is shown in yellow; Distance of track = 148 km or = 80 nautical miles; Time required = 5 hours & 10 minutes; Average speed = 28.6 km/h (15 knts); Speed while in open passages ~30 km/h, slowing to half that in restricted areas such as Tongass Narrows near Ketchikan.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 27, 2009 18:38:18 GMT -8
A question relevant to some of the AMHS pictures on this thread:
- for the Prince Rupert to Ketchikan route, what is the stretch of open-water like, compared with Milbanke Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound? ie. in time-to-travel and in swells and rolling-action.
And is the open-water that the Taku sails south of Annette and Duke Islands simply known as Dixon Entrance, or is there a specific name for the open water that the AMHS ships sail across?
Thanks.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Sept 28, 2009 10:55:32 GMT -8
In other news...
The Columbia shifted from the Shipyard to Ketchikan Cruise Berth 3 today for their Winter Lay-up. That leaves the LeConte and the Chenega at the shipyard, soon to be joined by the Fairweather (in a couple of days) and the Matanuska (on the 30th).
~LeC
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Sept 28, 2009 16:40:32 GMT -8
Hot off the press! We just got copies of the new 2009-10 Winter Schedule. I assume this means that they are at the terminals and available to all. ~LeC
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Post by whidbeyislandguy on Oct 13, 2009 13:22:37 GMT -8
The state ferry Tustumena passes under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on June 3, 1969. The Tustumena was built in Wisconsin in 1964 by Christy Corp. It was renovated during the winter of 1969 by Bethlehem Steel Corp in San Francisco, where a 56-foot-long mid-ship section was added, making the ship's length 296 feet. Stabilizer fins and a bow thruster also were added. Attachments:
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 17, 2009 9:34:56 GMT -8
Wow, it's interesting that one of the hard-working people at the AMHS or at some other Alaska DOT agency had time last night to litter our forum with guest graffiti. The cyber-vandal had nice and consistent posts that said the following, in 6 different threads on this new Alaska forum page, in succession: And the guest's IP address traces right to the Alaska Dept of Transportation. It's good to see that the users of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities computer network have such great creativity. ;D Mr. LeConte: were you doing some silly partying last night? just kidding. It must have been a bored shore-guy, right?
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Oct 20, 2009 17:39:36 GMT -8
Flugel,
Nope, wasn't me, but... I do know who the "culprit" was.
In fact I showed him the forum earlier that afternoon. When we came on, I noticed the new layout (love it BTW...) and we were looking around the AK portion, and I noticed that some stuff was missing...
He told me later that he "dug" around the site and found a bunch of Alaska stuff in the Washington section. So... he made a bunch of posts (copying and pasting the message) to bring those to the attention of the Mod's so they could get moved.
I have known this guy for years, and I know he wasn't trying to be malicious or anything... Yes he did have a bit of spare time on his hands, but he wasn't trying to be a "cyber-vandal" or "litter" the page with "guest graffiti" he was just trying to help out.
I'm trying to convince him to join, but due to the reaction he has so far received, he is a little hesitant!
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N-E-Ways... Love the new layout. Thanks to whoever decided to make it represent more of a "West Coast Ferries Forum" instead of a BC Ferries (and those other guys) Forum.
Also, I've been busy and will have quite a bit more to post soon!
Thanks again,
Monsieur LeConte
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 20, 2009 20:35:12 GMT -8
He told me later that he "dug" around the site and found a bunch of Alaska stuff in the Washington section. So... he made a bunch of posts (copying and pasting the message) to bring those to the attention of the Mod's so they could get moved. I have known this guy for years, and I know he wasn't trying to be malicious or anything... Yes he did have a bit of spare time on his hands, but he wasn't trying to be a "cyber-vandal" or "litter" the page with "guest graffiti" he was just trying to help out. I'm trying to convince him to join, but due to the reaction he has so far received, he is a little hesitant! Great to know he was just trying to help us out. Next time, if he uses more words to explain what he's trying to do, we might have a chance of understanding his intention. 6 identical middle-of-night posts by a nameless guest will get you "stopped by the police" every time.... I honestly thought his "can I be moved too?" posts were referring to himself, in parody of the earlier "posts moved" done by staff. I didn't think he was speaking up for the thread itself. Maybe if his guest name was "this here thread" instead of "that guy", it would have made more sense understanding that he was speaking for the thread, not himself. Or he could have posted something like "hey, I see that you moved other threads, but I think you should move this one too". Hopefully he will understand how his posts came-across and will be willing to give us some context next time. We welcome him, his expanded vocabulary, and his thick-skin, here to the forum. Cheers! and Welcome!
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Oct 21, 2009 2:33:22 GMT -8
From the Juneau Empire: www.juneauempire.com/stories/101909/loc_506453798.shtmlCrew abandons burning ship near Funter BayTwo escape uninjured after fire in engine room of Alaskan Pride Monday, October 19, 2009 By Jeremy Hsieh | JUNEAU EMPIRE Late Tuesday last week, Capt. Mike Worthington was running the 55-foot Alaskan Pride tender near Funter Bay, about 15 miles south of Point Retreat in Chatham Straits. "Everything's fine - then all of sudden, everything's not fine," said the fisherman from Kake. There was a fire in the engine room. After he and his deckhand exhausted every means of fighting the fire, it spread quickly. "We could see the flames, obviously. There was a lot of smoke," Worthington said. "It started in the engine room, spread to the wheelhouse, was probably almost into the galley by the time we got into the life raft. By the time we had our suits on, the whole house galley was engulfed in flames. We could probably see 3, 4 feet of mast." They put out a mayday call before abandoning the ship for a life raft tethered to the flaming boat. The winds were blowing in the darkness around 35 knots with 8- to 10-foot seas. "It was, yeah, pretty crappy weather. By the time we got on survival suits, the boat had turned sideways, entered the trough," he said. Neither man panicked. They'd spotted another vessel nearby on the radar before leaving the Alaskan Pride. "And they couldn't miss the flaming boat, either," Worthington said. The other ship was the Alaska Marine Highway System's ferry Taku, which was en route to Hoonah, from Juneau. Capt. Thomas Moore changed course to rescue the two men and was there in about 30 minutes. He brought the ferry close to the life raft and lowered a lifeboat to the water with half a dozen men, who plucked Worthington and his deckhand, Darren Manual of Spokane, Wash, out of the raft. Neither one was injured. "Never even got wet," Worthington said. Harry R. Sharclane of Hoonah was aboard the Taku and witnessed the nighttime rescue. He said he was impressed by how smoothly it went, especially considering the weather. "The wind was blowing hard, it nearly blew my glasses off," he said. "These guys train and train and train in calm weather, but the real push was last night. The real test, they pulled through miraculously. ... Someone's really on the ball." Worthington had recently taken a class through the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, "which very possibly saved our lives," he said. "I'd suggest that to anybody that's on a boat. Had a lot to do with our survival," he said. "I was prepared, knew what to do, knew how to get into survival suits." Meanwhile, the Alaskan Pride was a total loss. The Coast Guard flew over it on Wednesday morning and reported it was still on fire. The vessel later sank in several hundred feet of water in Square Cove. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said the Pride had about 400 gallons of diesel fuel and an unknown amount of lube and engine oil on it when the fire broke out Tuesday. A DEC spokeswoman says most of the petroleum products likely burned off in the fire. Auke Bay seafood processor Alaska Glacier Seafood Co. owned the boat. Company president Mike Erickson poured praise on his guys, the Coast Guard and ferry crew, who he said all acted professionally. For Erickson, that his guys came away unscathed made it a happy ending. "It certainly could have been a lot worse," Erickson said. Losing the Pride, which the company had owned for nine years, is a sore spot, though. "Pretty sad in having that one go. It played a major role in the forward movement of this seafood company. You become pretty attached. But, you know, things like that happen," Erickson said. Erickson didn't say what the value of the boat was, though he said it was insured. • The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Jeremy Hsiehat jeremy.hsieh@juneauempire.com. ----------------------------- I'm disappointed that AMHS hasn't released anything praising their crew in the rescue of these individuals. It happened on the 13th! Oh well, maybe something is coming...
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Oct 30, 2009 2:11:42 GMT -8
Hey Flugel, I have not really answered your post because I do not have much experience on that route. Maybe this will help bring someone forward who has more specific answers. - for the Prince Rupert to Ketchikan route, what is the stretch of open-water like, compared with Milbanke Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound? ie. in time-to-travel and in swells and rolling-action. Not sure on the comparisons, but I have heard of times where there is barely a ripple of a swell, and I have heard of times where the Taku is burying its bow into every wave. I want to say that Dixon Entrance is about 2 hours south of Ketchikan and the transit of that section lasts roughly 45 minutes. (I'm really hazy on that part) As for rolling-action, a big part of that depends on the ship itself. The Taku has a tendency to roll around a bit more than the Matanuska and the Malaspina, I have been told partially due to her not being lengthened like her sisters and partially because of some work tied in with her re-powering (Sorry, don't have the details on that one!). The Kennicott is a completely different experience in the rough stuff due mainly to her being designed for ocean crossings and her having stabilizer fins. And is the open-water that the Taku sails south of Annette and Duke Islands simply known as Dixon Entrance, or is there a specific name for the open water that the AMHS ships sail across? Once they come out of Tongass Narrows they travel down Revillagigedo Channel down into Dixon Entrance. I have only heard the open section referred to as Dixon Entrance. Hope this helps! ~LeC
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 30, 2009 6:31:16 GMT -8
Hey Flugel, I have not really answered your post because I do not have much experience on that route. Maybe this will help bring someone forward who has more specific answers. Thanks for noticing my question and for giving me the info that you have. Much appreciated. I'm starting to think of trip ideas for 2010, and a Prince Rupert to Ketchikan trip is a possibility. Cheers!
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Oct 30, 2009 10:09:07 GMT -8
Flugel,
I cannot express in words how amazing my trip on the Columbia was this summer. It was simply an amazing trip.
From what I remember we were in the rough stuff and fog for hours in Behm channel and Dixon entrance. They made an announcement about the bad weather we were going to hit. Columbia moved around quite a bit, but nothing like what the Chilliwack does in Queen Charlotte Sound. That was a boring few hours; I had already been on the ship for 2 days by myself. I ended up in the TV lounge watching Hannah Montana.
I would really suggest you take the extra time and make the mainline trip on Columbia or Malaspina up to Skagway, then make sure you are on Columbia on the way south so that you go out to Sitka. The trip out to Sitka is amazing. Sitka channel is pretty scary, the ship conquers the tight turns and reefs at full speed. It feels like open water for a while. It puts the active pass run to shame.
If you go in the summer season, try and get a room. AMHS has a no seat saving policy and the Americans are quite rude when it comes to your belongings on the ship. I went for a walk to find all my belongings removed from my chair and scattered all over the deck.
Cheers,
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2009 8:35:39 GMT -8
A question relevant to some of the AMHS pictures on this thread: - for the Prince Rupert to Ketchikan route, what is the stretch of open-water like, compared with Milbanke Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound? ie. in time-to-travel and in swells and rolling-action. And is the open-water that the Taku sails south of Annette and Duke Islands simply known as Dixon Entrance, or is there a specific name for the open water that the AMHS ships sail across? Thanks. I will take a stab at this one. I have traveled from Juneau to then Seattle and round trip from Prince Rupert to Ketchikan. I believe the stretch of open water like M/V LeConte stated is called Dixon Entrance and there are no other names for that stretch of open water. I also know first hand that it can get quite rough across there. My first experience across Dixon Entrance was on the Columbia and I was little so I just remember bits and pieces about the trip. But on the round trip crossing I took from Prince Rupert to Ketchikan on the way up on the Aurora is was just rainy and pretty calm, however, returning on the Matanuska was a different story altogether. It was early in the morning and we were sleeping in the stateroom, it became so rough that I thought I was going to be tossed out of the bunk. My Father who was with us got up to use the restroom and right as he was coming out the ferry pitched and he ended up pretty much getting tossed out of the bathroom. One other story I have about Dixon Entrance was when my Father worked on the tugs in 1949. They were traveling south bound with a log tow and right before they got to Dundas Island the rudder stock crystalized and they lost there rudder. They had to use the tow line as a make shift rudder tying up the log raft up to some trees at Dundas Island. And waited to be towed back to Prince Rupert. They were in Prince Rupert on dry dock for one month. Luckily, Dixon Entrance was what my Father described as a mill pond at the time they lost the rudder.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Nov 1, 2009 0:11:45 GMT -8
Weeere Baaack!
From today's Juneau Empire: (Nice photo with article)http://juneauempire.com/stories/110109/loc_511313138.shtml
LeConte back in ferry system, ups village service Sister vessel not able to fill in during ferry's annual overhaul
By Pat Forgey | JUNEAU EMPIRE Village residents are getting their ferry back this weekend, when the Alaska Marine Highway System's LeConte returns to service following an annual overhaul.
In the meantime, Allen Marine of Sitka provided service connecting Juneau with Angoon, Hoonah, Tenakee Springs, Pelican and Sitka. The contract service was provided by two vessels, the passenger-carrying St. Aquilina and the vehicle-carrying Glacier.
Angoon residents are happy their big ferry is returning, said Maxine Thompson, a local businesswoman and member of the state's Marine Transportation Advisory Board from Angoon.
"They're looking forward to the LeConte coming back," she said.
It was unusual to have to contract with a private company to provide ferry service. State officials said the LeConte's sister ship, the Aurora, was unavailable this year because it was getting a long-term overhaul. The system's mainline ferries such as the Columbia and the stern-loading catamarans such as the Fairweather, are incompatible with some village docks.
Thompson said she was among those who had been skeptical that the Allen Marine boats would be able to provide adequate service, but was pleased at how well they did.
One factor, she said, was the small vessels weren't faced with bad weather during the two months they provided ferry service.
The ferry system, too, was pleased. Capt. John Falvey, AMHS general manager, described Allen Marine's work as "nothing short of outstanding."
Falvey said he's grateful that the company was able to provide service to the northern Southeast's village route. Those communities rely heavily on ferry service, and some don't have airfields.
Thompson said the substitute service wasn't the same as the LeConte, however. The small boat had weight restrictions on carry-on luggage, which was a problem for residents heading to Juneau to shop, she said.
"They allowed 100 pounds, which isn't very much when you start talking about a 25-pound bag of rice and at 25-pound bag of sugar, which large families would buy in Juneau," Thompson said.
"There was a lot of frustration, because this is the time of year with permanent fund dividends people would be going into town to buy washers or dryers," she said.
The St. Aquilina was also more susceptible to heavy weather, and couldn't sail if the seas were rough. This is the time of year for potlatches, and Thompson said she knew of at least one which was canceled because of the schedule uncertainty. Others were delayed until after the LeConte's return.
The Allen Marine service was well used, said Chuck vanKirk, the ferry system's operations manager. On at least one occasion, it came very close to hitting the St. Aquilina's 125-passenger capacity, vanKirk said, but never had to turn anyone away.
During the LeConte's annual overhaul, it was dry-docked for inspections that discovered no problems, vanKirk said. It also got various improvements to navigational and safety equipment, lifesaving gear and general machinery.
The LeConte overhaul cost $790,000, vanKirk said.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
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