August 15, 2007
Wednesday

(SitNews) - The MV Columbia will be out of service for at least the remainder of the week with engine problems. The Columbia's starboard engine went down early Monday morning as it was traveling northbound to Juneau.

Approximately 268 passengers bound for Haines and Skagway aboard the Columbia were affected by the mechanical failure. In response, the Alaska Marine Highway System is using the M/V LeConte and the FVF Fairweather to transport all passengers to their destinations. The Fairweather, one of two fast vehicle ferries in the AMHS fleet, will make two trips north to accommodate the inconvenienced passengers.

The AMHS has received permission from the Coast Guard to sail the Columbia to Ketchikan for repairs. Meanwhile, technical representatives based out of Seattle are flying to Ketchikan to oversee the repairs.

As a result of the breakdown, the Columbia sailing from Haines to Bellingham on Monday had to be cancelled.

"We've had to cancel our scheduled Friday sailing northbound from Bellingham but we are hoping to get the Columba back on schedule by Sunday at 10 a.m. when it was supposed to sail from Ketchikan northbound," Falvey said. "Our reservations staff is also working to accommodate travelers who were expecting to sail on the Columbia to Bellingham."

Customers with prior reservations on the Columbia are being asked to stay in contact with their closest AMHS terminal or call (800) 642-0066 for updates.

Source of News:

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

 

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