May 27, 2008
Tuesday

The crew aboard the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferry Columbia extinguished a generator fire at sea Sunday afternoon near Wrangell.
 
Columbia was transiting northbound from Ketchikan with about 285 passengers and 113 vehicles after departing at 10 a.m. when the fire began in the number one generator about 1:30 p.m.
 
"Obviously the crew performed quite well in extinguishing this small fire and keeping it contained," said Capt. John Falvey, AMHS general manager. "We're very thankful that there were no injuries or substantial damage to any of the ship's other systems."
 
AMHS representatives transferred the Columbia passengers to the ferries Kennicott and Taku to continue their travels.

"Right now our goal is to have the experts forensically disassemble the generator, try to pinpoint what happened and to receive the Coast Guard's approval for Columbia to set sail Wednesday," Falvey said.
 
Columbia is tentatively scheduled to sail to Bellingham tomorrow and return northward with passengers and vehicles Friday.

Falvey said that AMHS has a replacement generator in Seattle that is slated for installation the second or third week in July. The Kennicott will carry the Columbia's passengers while the generator replacement occurs.

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.ak.us

 

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