(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) vessels, M/V Columbia, M/V Kennicott, and M/V Tustumena were scheduled to leave the Ketchikan Shipyard and resume service in mid-April and early May 2020. For the safety of AMHS employees and to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 at the Ketchikan Shipyard, AMHS reduced shipboard crew levels on March 25, 2020, to the minimum necessary to safely care for assets.

To minimize close contact between employees, AMHS reduced the number of crew working in the Ketchikan Shipyard by almost 50%. DOT&PF and AMHS determined that the most responsible thing that could be done was to protect the health of the crew was to reduce the number of people in the confined shipyard as working conditions make it difficult to follow social distancing recommendations.

DOT&PF Commissioner John MacKinnon stated , “The present situation is unprecedented, necessitating close cooperation and collaboration between communities, DOT&PF, our contractors, and labor. Transportation supports our communities, our economy, and our industries—connecting people with essential life, health, commerce, and safety access. While we will carry on with our important work for Alaska during these extraordinary circumstances, we will also continue to follow the guidance of our state and federal agencies. It’s worth repeating what many have said, we will get through this challenge – together."

Vigor Ketchikan Shipyard expects to complete overhaul work for the Columbia, Kennicott and Tustumena on schedule, however, additional AMHS crew must first return to Ketchikan to provision the vessels and complete practice drills for required safety certifications before service can resume. Given the current protocols in place, that is not feasible at this time. As a result, the Columbia, Kennicott, and Tustumena will not return to service as previously scheduled. AMHS tentatively plans for the vessels to resume service in mid-May. All passengers are being notified and rebooked or refunded as necessary.

Emergency orders implementing travel restrictions have been issued by the communities of Angoon and Hoonah and traffic demand for those communities is greatly diminished. As a result, AMHS is reducing service levels for Angoon and Hoonah to provide essential grocery deliveries until the public health crisis has abated.

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is extending its policy waiving cancellation fees for any reservation until May 1, 2020. To cancel or make changes to an itinerary you can contact the AMHS reservation call center at 1-800-642-0066 or call your local AMHS terminal.

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Dept. of Transportation
www.dot.alaska.gov

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