(JUNEAU, Alaska) – Last week, the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather details from marine charter companies about the services they can provide.

AMHS is working with the responding companies to establish options for interim passenger and freight service for the Northern Panhandle in the near future. Once dates are set, AMHS will work with communities to give them enough time to plan.

The RFI was issued to identify companies that could provide service after AMHS vessels were unexpectedly sidelined. The aging fleet of ferries requires more costly and time-consuming repairs.

The AMHS 2020 Spring/Summer schedule was released last month for public comment. The scheduling team is reviewing community feedback and the schedule is currently being finalized. AMHS works to meet the unique needs of communities where possible, and the final schedule is expected to be released at the end of February. AMHS anticipates that the updated Spring/Summer service will include special runs to accommodate the Cordova fishery.

The Tazlina is scheduled to return to service on March 5, and the Matanuska is anticipated to return to service on March 2. Schedules are available at http://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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