Smaller Alaska Ferries & Public Management Discussed
September 20 saw the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Haines discuss a near-final draft plan to reform how the Alaska Marine Ferry system is both managed and operated.
The plan calls for replacing some ferries with smaller, more efficient vessels; for creating an independent corporation to buffer the ferry system from shifting political priorities, and enabling the new corporation to negociate its own labor contracts.
The proposed new public corporation would have its own staff overseen by a seven-member board appointed by the governor and would continue to receive state and federal funds.
US citizens travelling to/thru Canada from the US
As the only universally-accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel, passports are required for anyone over the age of 18 years who is crossing a border.
For ferry passengers disembarking in Haines AK and driving toward Anchorage/ Fairbanks or to the Kenai Peninsula, a passport will be required as the Alcan Hwy dips into Canada for a short time, before returning to Alaska.
For more detailed Canada Customs information call 1-800-461-9999 • www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
For more detailed ferry information call 1-800-686-0446 • www.ferrytravel.com
Firearms on Ferries
Firearms can be transported on ferries as long as the chambers are empty; the weapons are locked and any ammunition is packed separately.
Canada however prohibits all automatic, semi-automatic & hand guns.
Be aware that if travelling to Anchorage / Fairbanks etc. or to the Kenai Peninsula via a ferry to Haines Alaska, you will arrive in Alaska but for a short time the Alcan Hwy will drop into Canada so one can not travel with the prohibited weapons.
Hand-guns etc can be couriered from the mainland US to Alaska.
Alternativly, taking a ferry to Whittier (see "Alaska Ferry Route Map" under Route Map in red line at the top of this page) will completely avoid travelling through Canada.
Ferries to Whittier operate 2x per month March through September and advance reservations made as far in advance are manditory to avoid disappointment.
Direct Ferry Route Added
BC Ferries will add direct ferry service between Port Hardy and Bella Coola commencing 19 June 2018. The direct Port Hardy - Bella Coola ferry will operate through 01 Oct 2018.
This newest BC ferry service is anticipated to be particularly popular with visitors to BC
Vancouver -Victoria Ferry to Resume Service in October
After determining in August that the V2V Empress would be better served with new engines, the recently launched ferry service connecting foot passengers between Vancouver BC and Victoria BC is scheduled to return to ferry service in late October 2017.
The V2V Empress is a 254 high-speed catamaran launched in May 2017 to provide luxury, passenger-only ferry service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria.
The newly refitted ferry is expected to travel a reduced schedule: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday through to the end of April when daily service will be reinstated.
The winter schedule - still to be confirmed - has the ferry tentatively departing Vancouver at approx 9:00am and returning from Victoria at 2:30pm.
BC Ferries Gift Shop Sale
For a limited time, get 30% off the entire collection of Baggallini bags sold in the BC Ferry Passages gift shop.
Sales extends ‘till until 02 November 2017.
Some restrictions apply.
Clipper Vacations to Launch New Ferry Service
The newest passenger ferry route between downtown Vancouver and Victoria is on track to begin service next spring.
Clipper Vacations will provide another option to those wanting to travel by ferry between Vancouver and Victoria.
The acquisition of a 52-metre, high-speed catamaran able to carry 579 ferry passengers is scheduled to make one round-trip sailing each day.
The ferry will depart Vancouver in the morning and sail from Victoria in the afternoon.
Call 1-800-686-0446 for more information
MV Matanuska Delayed
The Ketchikan to Prince Rupert ferry sailing scheduled for Friday September 22nd has been delayed due to mechanical issues.
Please double check with your booking agent to obtain a revised schedule.
Alaska Ferry MV LeConte Sailings Cancelled 22, 23 & 24 September
The MV LeConte has been cancelled for Friday September 22, Saturday
September 23rd and Sunday September 24th due to a mechanical
issue.
More information can be obtained by calling 907-228-6836.Alaska Marine Ferry MV Taku Sold
The Alaska Department of Transportation has accepted a $300,000 bid from a Portland Oregon company to purchase the 50 yer old M/V Taku.
The
MV Taku equiptment not included in the sale is slated to be used on the
new Alaska Class ferries and on the remainder of the Alaska ferry fleet on an
as-needed basis.
Once relocated in Oregon, the purchasing company (KeyMar LLC) intends to refit the MV Taku for use as a floating hotel.
Alaska Ferry / Ferries to Whittier, Homer, Valdez
The cross -gulf ferries ( ferries that skip Canada by travelling from Washington to Juneau and then across the gulf to the Kenai Peninsula (Whittier, Homer, Valdez) are now sold out for the balance of 2017.
Ferries travelling Homer to Kodiak and Valdez to Whittier travel year round - it is only the ferries that cross the Gulf of Alaska that terminate service for the winter
The cross-gulf ferries will start again in April 2018.
To travel to Homer, Whittier and Valdez between now and March, take the ferry from Bellingham Washington, to Haines Alaska and then drive on from there. This route requires a passportfor transit through Canada