MV Aurora

[alaskanmohican]

Here are some pics of the Aurora while docked at Cordova in Prince William Sound. These were taken from the Chenega while docking.

The first glimpse of the Aurora with the side of the Chenega on the right.


Profile shot of the Aurora. Aurora is a younger sister to the LeConte.


A few shots moving down the Aurora as we sailed by.


Bridge, forward lounge, and the side vehicle doors open with an RV on the car deck.


The funnel, solarium, and below that the side lounge.


On the aft of the superstructure we have the cafeteria.




A view where we can see the stern vehicle ramp. The wake is coming from the Chenega as we dock.






A view from the stern of Chenega as we dock, hence the ramp in the foreground. The dock structure at Cordova is unique for AMHS as it is a floating structure which has a single "Y" shaped ramp. A single ramp comes from land and then splits into two ramps, one for side loading which the Aurora is docked at, and the other a stern loading ramp that the Chenega is docking at.


Finaly another view of Aurora while docked.

[WettCoast]

AMHS's M/V Aurora at Ketchikan, Alaska - 2 August 1985.

This photo was taken from the Malaspina. Her bell is visible at the lower right. In the background, on the other side of the channel, is Ketchikan's airport.

photo © JST - Kodachrome - 85-10-11 - Nikon-VueScan by Wett Coast, on Flickr[/size]

[Deleted]

The Aurora has been taken out of service due to a water leak in the bilge tank area. 

USCG takes State Ferry AURORA out of service

Posted 08/08/2015
by - Cordova Times Staff


The Coast Guard issued an order Saturday, August 08, 2015 preventing the State Ferry AURORA from operating until safety concerns are addressed.
According to a statement from the USCG, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez received a call from the vessel master Saturday morning stating that one of the vessel's bilge tanks was filling with water at a rate of approximately 50 gallons per hour. The vessel crew attempted to locate the source of the water ingress but no source has yet been identified. The Captain of the Port for Prince William Sound, AK made the executive decision Saturday to prevent the AURORA from operating with passengers until the source of the water ingress is located and repaired to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard.
Vessel Inspectors from Marine Safety Unit Valdez attended the AURORA and the vessel was deemed seaworthy to proceed directly to Ketchikan for repairs without carrying passengers or cargo. The vessel departed Port Valdez Saturday evening.
The AURORA operates on a regularly scheduled route between the Alaskan ports of Cordova, Whittier, and Valdez.
The Coast Guard says it is working diligently with the Alaska Marine Highway to resolve the situation and bring the vessel back to operation as quickly as possible.
- See more at: www.thecordovatimes.com/article/1532uscg-takes-state-ferry-aurora-out-of-service#sthash.Z98X6dIe.dpuf

[articulated]

I made a 5-week road trip to and through Alaska back in the summer, which of course included some ferry action.


Aurora seen arriving in Whittier, then departing in the third shot. Despite only being at dock for around one hour, the weather has completely changed between the first two and the last photo. Her homeport is still listed as Hoonah, although I feel like she rarely visits there anymore, given her primary responsibilities are in Prince William Sound.


AMHS Aurora by Andrew Crawford, on Flickr


AMHS Aurora by Andrew Crawford, on Flickr


AMHS Aurora by Andrew Crawford, on Flickr

Oh, and might as well throw in a bonus shot: Aurora departing while Kennicott is approaching. While I had intentionally planned my visit to Whittier on a day when both vessels were scheduled to visit, Kennicott ended up arriving well over an hour early, which enabled both vessels to be in the harbor together.


DSC_5101 by Andrew Crawford, on Flickr