Anchorage Daily News

KODIAK -- State lawmakers from Kodiak and Homer are protesting plans by the Alaska Marine Highway System to cut service to Kodiak Island, Homer and Seldovia next winter while one ferry undergoes repairs.

Sen. Gary Stevens and Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, both Kodiak Republicans, and Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, called the ferry plan unacceptable.

"We believe they needed to go back to the drawing board and find a more acceptable solution to delivering service to our area," LeDoux said.

The plan calls for the Kennicott to replace the Tustumena while the latter ferry undergoes repairs from November 2008 to April 2009.

However, the replacement plan calls for the Kennicott to tie up every two weeks in Ketchikan throughout this summer and throughout the Tustumena layup. That means the Kennicott would make just one port call in Kodiak per month for six months.

John Falvey, director of the state ferry system, said ferry costs are escalating.

"Fuel is getting more expensive," he said. "The Kennicott costs around $410,000 a week to operate, trying to replace a vessel that costs $242,000 a week to operate on a run that generates $45,000 in revenue. We're trying the best we can to cover all the bases."

Falvey said the ferry system would save money this year by reducing the number of runs and by tying up the Kennicott.

"On the two weeks it's not running, we have a reduced crew on there, plus you're not burning a lot of fuel," he said.

Stevens said ferry officials need to rethink the Kennicott cost-saving issue.

"It seems to me this could be very destructive to the Marine Highway System," Stevens said. "My suggestion is why don't we keep the Kennicott on duty a full month instead of just two weeks out of very month."

Stevens acknowledged the higher cost but said it needs to be done.

"I think Gov. (Sarah) Palin needs to put more money in the budget for the Marine Highway System," said Stevens, the Senate majority leader. "When we have one vessel ... out of service for six months, it looks to me like we need to sort of suck it up and accept the additional cost."

Falvey said state general-fund spending for the ferry system this year increased by $4.9 million from $81.8 million to $86.8 million.

PORT LIONS' PLIGHT

While Kodiak Island would see less service, Port Lions, a community of 221 on the north side of Kodiak Island, would have no service from the Kennicott, which is too large to enter its port. However, officials for the Marine Highway System said they are in negotiations to remedy that situation.

"It's my understanding what they're hoping to do is possibly bring in a private contractor to provide service," said Port Lions Mayor Judy Clayton.

She said ferry officials are negotiating with union officials to receive the ability to negotiate with a private contractor. Clayton said it would be economically devastating to her community to lose ferry service for that long.

The Tustumena is scheduled for machinery and interior maintenance, deck work, structural and steel work and work to the vehicle elevator. Officials also may add an elevator to assist passengers onto the ship.

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