Service Notices | Alaska Marine Highway System

MAR

26

Status Update: 03-26-20

In an effort to keep everyone informed during this time of constant change, we will be sending "Status Updates" directly by email. Please see the 03-26-20 Status Update for our first edition. If you would like to receive these updates regularly, please sign up for GovDelivery by clicking here. Once you enter your email address you will select from a list of topics to enable specific notifications. Select "Ferries" and you will receive status updates and notifications pertaining to selected categories for ferry service.

MAR

25

Press Release: DOT&PF and AMHS Take Action to Reduce Employee Contact

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) always puts the health and safety of employees first and continues to do so in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many DOT&PF employees are now telecommuting, and the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) has reduced shipboard crew levels at the Ketchikan Shipyard to the minimum necessary to safely care for assets. Please see the Press Release for more details.

MAR

25

Schedule Update: MV Lituya 03-26-20 to 04-30-20

The MV Lituya schedule has been changed effective Thursday March 26th through Thursday April 30th 2020. The vessel will overnight in Ketchikan during this time. Please see the Gov Delivery for more details.

MAR

25

Announcment: AMHS Public Notice COVID-19 Health Mandate

In the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is operating under the March 23rd, 2020 mandate issued by Governor Dunleavy. The mandate has been posted in terminals and on vessels at this time. Please click here to review the mandate.

MAR

21

Notification: Statement from John MacKinnon

Commissioner John MacKinnon of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities has issued a statement about the departments' status regarding the COVID-19 disease. Please see the Statement Notification for more details.

MAR

19

Press Release: AMHS Announces New Boarding Process to Avoid Disruptions in Service

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is required to immediately report any illness of persons on board our vessels to the U.S. Coast Guard and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new boarding process has been put in place to avoid disruptions to service or a situation involving passengers quarantined aboard ship. Please see the Press Release for more details.

MAR

18

Press Release: AMHS Cancellation Fees Waived until April 8th, 2020

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is waiving cancellation fees until April 8th, 2020 and safety protocols are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please see the Press Release for more details.

MAR

16

Alaska Marine Highway System – Keeping our travelers and employees safe

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the main federal response agency for maritime vessels. The United States Coast Guard has forwarded precautionary information to vessel operators and AMHS is working closely with both entities to ensure our methods and materials remain consistent and current for handling new developments related to the Covid-19 coronavirus.

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The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) uses cleaning methods and materials that are meant to reduce the potential for acquiring communicable diseases. These cleaning methods and materials are designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19, Influenza A&B, Norovirus, and the multitude of other communicable diseases. AMHS has reviewed our Infection Control Plan with all vessel and shore side employees and modified our standard operating procedures to clean and disinfect passenger areas onboard state ferries and in our terminal facilities more frequently to ensure passenger safety.

Here are the multilayer cleaning protocols AMHS has already implemented to keep travelers and employees safe from communicable diseases:

Intensified cleaning of our terminal facilities;

AMHS has implemented the use of Virox wipes for cleaning high touch areas; such as ticket counter/window areas, doors and tables. All restrooms are disinfected three times per day and wiped down routinely throughout the day
AMHS has implemented a NO contact policy between employees and customers and will put more distance between themselves and customers when providing assistance.
Implemented sanitization protocol after handling customer hand luggage, boxes and freight, on top of regular washing.
AMHS employees will no longer be handling customer credit cards, they will request that customers read the credit card details.
Signage with protocol for boarding vessels is being added to terminals and boarding areas.

Immediate steps already implemented onboard our vessels;

All restrooms are disinfected three times per day and wiped down routinely throughout the day.
High touch areas such as handrails, counter tops, door handles, drinking fountains and vending machines are sanitized several times per day.
AMHS has temporarily removed certain food items such as; salad bars, self-serve and unwrapped food items from our cafes. These items can be requested from the cook, server or cashier.
AMHS is providing continuous training of our crew regarding CDC advised cleaning practices.
AMHS has updated the use of CDC recommend disinfecting and sanitizing products.

AMHS is currently taking bookings for our summer schedule. Our reservations call center, terminals and administrative offices all remain open on regular business hours. Reservations for travel can continue to be made by calling your local terminal, our toll-free Juneau reservations call center at 1-800-642-0066, or you can confirm reservations online at www.FerryAlaska.com.

MAR

02

Press Release: AMHS Summer 2020 Schedule is Open for Booking

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) released its 2020 summer schedule today. Please see the Press Release for more details.

FEB

21

Press Release: MV Matanuska Remains Out of Service Due to Mechanical Issue

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is cancelling sailings on the MV Matanuska through Tuesday, April 14, at which time the MV Columbia is anticipated to assume the sailings originally scheduled for the MV Matanuska. Please see the Press Release or contact your local terminal for more details.

JAN

24

Schedule Update: MV Kennicott 04-22-20 to 04-27-20

The MV Kennicott has cancelled service on Wednesday April 22nd and will delay service on Saturday April 25th for Homer to Kodiak. These changes were made to provide service around Prince William Sound on Thursday April 23rd and Friday April 24th. Please see the Schedule Update for more details. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel will be open from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM on the 23rd to accommodate the 5:00 AM departure.