JUNEAU — With all of its mainline ferries broken down, undergoing renovations or laid up for lack of operating funds, the Alaska Marine Highway System will pay a Southeast Alaska tourism firm $22,150 for a series of private ferry sailings this month.
According to a Thursday evening announcement, Allen Marine will sail between Juneau and the towns of Kake, Angoon and Tenakee on Feb. 29 and March 3. A contract signed by the state and Allen Marine indicates the firm could also be used for a voyage from Juneau to Sitka during March. No such sailing has been announced.
Allen Marine’s boats cannot carry cars, and cargo space is limited: Passengers are limited to only what they can carry, up to 80 pounds per person.
The state previously hired Allen Marine to transport passengers stranded by the breakdown of the ferry Matanuska earlier this month.
Of Alaska’s 12 state-owned ferries, only the shuttle ferry Lituya, which is limited to a short run between Ketchikan and Metlakatla, remains operational. All others are offline either for lack of operating funds or because of mechanical problems.
The state’s two new ferries, the Tazlina and Hubbard, were designed for Juneau-specific routes and are being retrofitted to serve other communities. The Tazlina is expected to resume service in the first week of March.