Ketchikan Airport Ferries

[SolDuc]

The Ketchikan airport, located on Gravelina Island (famed for it's bridge and road to nowhere) runs a one-ship very short route across Tongass Narrows to reach the airport. The regular ship on the route is the Ken Eichner 2 and the replacement is the Oral Freeman. Both are fairly new (2002 for the Oral Freeman, 2011 for the Ken Eichner 2), thus indicating that the bridge to nowhere is far off given the money invested in the two ships.

Let's start by the Oral Freeman, here's just what she looks like, from the Ken Eicher 2. She's a twin sister to the other ship.
MV Oral Freeman - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Now moving on to the Ken Eichner 2. At the airport as seen from the Kennicott.
MV Ken Eichner 2 - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Coming towards Ketchikan, thru shot. The light load is what has accumulated in 30 minutes, giving a good idea of the traffic a bridge would see.
MV Ken Eichner 2 en-route to Ketchikan - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

MV Ken Eichner 2 en-route to Ketchikan - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Boarding the ship
Boarding the MV Ken Eichner 2 - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

She was built by AS&D, just a few hundred meters down the narrows from where she sails.
Builder's Plaque, MV Ken Eichner 2 - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Lifering
Lifering, MV Ken Eichner 2 - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Superstructure
Superstructure, MV Ken Eichner 2 - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Sailing away from Ketchikan
Wake, MV Ken Eichner 2 - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

A little bit of Scott fun, to finish this post
Name, MV Ken Eichner 2 - Ketchikan Airport Ferries by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

[SolDuc]

So with the gloomy days of October now upon us, there's little or no ferry or 100-mile bike trips happening so I'm (finally) focusing on pictures from this summer and getting them up. While I did get Alaska stuff up here pretty early on, I still have a few ferry walkthroughs to post. I'll upload one a day until Thrusday, starting today with the Ken Eichner II.

[FNS]

Here's my ride aboard the MV ORAL FREEMAN I took in 2009 after rides aboard the MV NORTHERN EXPEDITION and MV TAKU:


At the dock in Ketchikan.


Underway for PAKT.


MV BOB ELLIS


Inside the ORAL FREEMAN.  No real comfort is needed as these trips last less than five minutes.


Crossing the Tongass.


Arriving at the terminal at PAKT.


Finally, here's the runway chart of PAKT. 

I flew home to Seattle after these great ferry rides through the Inside Passage.

[KE7JFF]

You know, I never understood why it was called the "Bridge to Nowhere" until one of my coworkers, who is from Alaska explained to me that the bridge would of connected the airport, but the bridge would of had to accommodate marine traffic, which I never realized cruise ships plus the AHMS use the waterway, which explained why the bridge would of been like the Golden Gate Bridge...

[FNS]

Oct 28, 2014 18:18:49 GMT -8 KE7JFF said:

You know, I never understood why it was called the "Bridge to Nowhere" until one of my coworkers, who is from Alaska explained to me that the bridge would of connected the airport, but the bridge would of had to accommodate marine traffic, which I never realized cruise ships plus the AHMS use the waterway, which explained why the bridge would of been like the Golden Gate Bridge...

This is why you shouldn't span a bridge across the waterway to PAKT from the city:


Big cruise ships use that channel.  You'll never know how big and tall cruise ships will be in the future.

Stick with the ferry.  You can watch your friend's plane land and takeoff from this part of the city.  Meet them and send them off at the city ferry dock.  It's a short walk to the terminal building at the PAKT dock.  And, mind you, there's only ONE gate in the terminal!  I guess that's why the ticket agent didn't write down a gate number on my boarding pass for my flight to KSEA.

[KE7JFF]

Yup, they are big ships alright...a ferry is fine for now due to the fact the only business on the island is the airport. If that were to change since there is plenty of room on the island, I'd say a drawbridge at the location of infamous bridge would be much more practical.

[Name Omitted]

Alaska DOT goes with improved ferry over Bridge for Ketchikan.

State Selects Preferred Gravina Access Alternative, Again

(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Ketchikan Gateway Borough and City of Ketchikan officials were informed Thursday by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities that it will recommend the Gravina Access Project Alternative G4v as the state’s preferred alternative to the Federal Highway Administration. With a preferred alternative selected, the state will begin the necessary steps toward finalizing the federal environmental process.

Alternative G4v does not include a new ferry service or new ferry terminals. According to the Alaska Department of Transportation, "Alternative G4v is a ferry service variant that will improve existing ferry facilities for airport travelers and the movement of heavy freight." The alternative includes a passenger waiting facility, a new heavy freight dock and other amenities to improve access for ferry travelers and transporting freight to and from Gravina Island. Additional ferry service and associated terminals would be provided when an increased demand warrants additional service.

Continues in the link above...

[Low Light Mike]

Aug 11, 2018 14:39:08 GMT -8 paulvanb said:

This was actually as viewed from our cruise ship as we entered Ketchikan. Unfortunately, my camera was in the cabin and no time to get down there.

These were the only ferries I saw in Alaska!

The Stikine was in dry dock, the Hubbard under construction, the Tazlina at dock, and airport ferry.

[WettCoast]

One of the two Ketchikan (Alaska) Airport ferries, Ken Eichner-2, seen while en route across the Tongass Narrows, that separate the city from its airport.
24 July 2014


© WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr

[articulated]

WARNING: Photo-heavy post

The Ketchikan Airport ferry terminals are in the midst of some significant upgrades. The docks on both sides are being replaced; the western (Gravina) side is having its new ramp installed in the opposite direction, meaning the ferry will change from having to navigate an S-bend routing to a more simple arc between terminals. As well, the eastern (Ketchikan) side is having a significant redesign of the terminal side, with a new sheltered pick-up/drop-off area, enclosed terminal building, and a double loading lane.

First to start off are the two ferries. The newer Ken Eichner 2 is still the primary ferry, operating daily:


Oral Freeman, built 2001, is still the backup ferry:


Onto the terminal improvements. Looking over from the Ketchikan side to the current western (Gravina) dock, with Ken Eichner 2 loading at the current ramp.


The new structures on the western (Gravina) side; vehicles will be required to perform a U-turn from the roadway around that new concrete structure on the left down to the new ramp; the pilings for the new ramp and dolphins are in place, but the ramp itself has yet to be installed. Unfortunately I was not able to get better shots of the new terminal layout on the Gravina side due to the construction hoarding in place.


On the eastern (Ketchikan) side, there are now dedicated lanes for ferry loading and for passenger pick-up/drop-off:


The new sheltered passenger pick-up/drop-off area:


Looking up (facing north) the two loading lanes on the Ketchikan terminal. Note there is now a booth on the Ketchikan side, so fares can be collected on both sides before loading (rather than from alighting vehicles on the Gravina side, which presumably leads to delays in loading for the opposite direction):


Looking at the entrance to the ramps; this photo is just to the west and a bit south from the above photo, but still facing the same direction (north). The current dock is on the far left; the future dock will be placed in between the shore and the current dock. Vehicles from the two loading lanes will make the U-turn onto the new dock, while alighting vehicles will proceed straight to the left of the camera and exit directly to the highway. Also a bit better view of the terminal building, although it was still fenced off and under construction.


A nice glass mural on the exit lane, welcoming visitors into Ketchikan:


And finally, a minor (but necessary) improvement on the North Tongass Highway itself, the installation of a crosswalk to access the northbound bus stop.