The Alaska Legislature returns to session today. Last week, Rep. Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak) pre-filed several bills on topics she wants to see addressed during the session, including fisheries, Board of
Posted by Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska | Jan 14, 2021
The Chilkat was built in 1957 by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Company in Tacoma, Washington for about $300,000. The ship was 99 feet in overall length with a 34 foot beam. She could carry 15 vehicles and 59 passengers. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Marine Highway System)
The first state ferry the Chilkat broke free of its moorings on Wednesday (1-13-21) and sank during a windstorm in Anacortes, Washington. Although long retired from passenger service, some still remember the ship as the first “Blue Canoe.”
An amateur video caught the sights and sounds of the Chilkat’s final moments being battered in high winds. At some point the 64-year-old ferry had broken free from her moorings. She rolled over on her starboard side. In less than a minute she founders; her keel to the sky.
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Home › Shipping News › First Alaskan Passenger Ship ‘Blue Canoe’ Sinks In Windstorm
First Alaskan Passenger Ship ‘Blue Canoe’ Sinks In Windstorm
January 15, 2021
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The iconic Chilkat, Alaska’s state ferry which had long retired from passenger service is now lost forever. Popularly remembered as the first “Blue Canoe” sank in a Windstorm that engulfed the Anacortes of Washington.
The out of service ship didn’t have any fuel or pollutants onboard so there was no danger of environmental consequences. Everyone just feels that an inevitable part of history is lost and are planning to raise the vessel
Posted by Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska | Jan 13, 2021
The fast ferry Chenega in 2005. It cost $34 million and the state is seeking to get at least $5 million. (Photo by Alaska Department of Transportation)
The state of Alaska is trying to sell its idled fast ferries as it seeks to reduce the size of the Alaska Marine Highway System’s fleet.
So far its only taker comes from Trasmapi, an Ibiza-based ferry company that runs catamarans between the Mediterranean island and Spanish mainland. The Spanish firm offered a pair of bids for a combined worth of $4.6 million for the Chenega and Fairweather.
“And that is all the bids we have on the vessels,” said Tom Mayer, who works in the Alaska Department of Transportation’s procurement section, after the bids were unsealed on Wednesday afternoon.