JOINT PRESS RELEASE:
METLAKATLA INDIAN COMMUNITY
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES

(JUNEAU, Alaska) —The Metlakatla Indian Community, the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), and the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) today announced that the MV Lituya will begin operating seven days a week between Annette Bay and Ketchikan starting in late March or early April, improving travel reliability and flexibility for residents and visitors, and supporting the tourism and economic development opportunities.

The change recognizes the essential role the Lituya plays as a commuter vessel serving the Metlakatla Indian Community and the broader Ketchikan region.

“Seven day per week ferry service is a win-win for Metlakatla and the State of Alaska," said Governor Mike Dunleavy. "Metlakatla families can now travel when it works best for them, and the Alaska Marine Highway System actually saves money operating seven days a week instead of five. My administration remains committed to maintaining and improving Alaska’s Marine Highway System so coastal communities stay connected.” 

“This is a smart, service-focused adjustment,” said Alaska DOT&PF Commissioner Ryan Anderson. “It allows us to respond to what customers have been asking for—more reliable and frequent access—while continuing to operate efficiently. Metlakatla Mayor Albert Smith’s relentless efforts to advocate for his community played a key role in making seven-day service a reality. Increasing service on this route improves travel options for the community while making better use of the vessel we already have in service.”

For years, leaders in the Metlakatla Indian Community have advocated for expanded ferry service to better meet the needs of residents who rely on the ferry as their primary connection to Ketchikan.

“We’ve been working toward this for a long time,” said Mayor Smith. “Seven-day service will make a real difference for our community; to residents making medical trips, students traveling to tournaments and educational events, to families managing everyday needs like shopping and employment. Having consistent ferry service between Annette Bay and Ketchikan means people won’t have to plan their lives around gaps in the schedule.”

Mayor Smith also recognized the collaboration that helped make the expanded service possible.

“We appreciate the Governor’s Office, Alaska DOT&PF, and the Alaska Marine Highway System for listening to the needs of our people and recognizing the MV Lituya for what it truly is—a commuter vessel serving our community,” Smith said.

The expanded schedule is expected to improve travel reliability for medical appointments, school activities, employment, and everyday trips between Annette Island and Ketchikan, while also supporting tourism and small business activity on Annette Island. School districts and families will benefit from more predictable transportation, reducing the need for alternative travel arrangements when weather or scheduling disruptions occur. More frequent and dependable ferry service will also make it easier for visitors traveling through Ketchikan to explore Metlakatla, supporting local guides, cultural tourism, and other community-based businesses.

Operating the vessel seven days a week is made possible through more efficient crew scheduling and operational adjustments that eliminate certain alternative crew transportation arrangements. These changes allow the system to provide additional service without increasing overall operating costs, while the additional sailings are expected to generate increased fare revenue.

“This is a win for Metlakatla, a win for Ketchikan, and a win for Alaska,” said AMHS Director Craig Tornga. “We’re maximizing the capacity of the Lituya to serve more travelers more consistently—something we’ve heard clearly from the community.”

The Annette Bay route also represents an example of how local infrastructure investments can support efficient ferry service. The Metlakatla Indian Community constructed a road connection to Annette Bay specifically to enable short-run ferry operations with Ketchikan. That model—linking road access with short-distance marine service—is a concept the State continues to explore as part of its long-range strategy for strengthening Alaska’s marine transportation network.

The expanded Lituya schedule is part of a broader effort by Alaska DOT&PF and AMHS to modernize and reinvest in the Alaska Marine Highway System through improvements to vessels, terminals, and workforce operations.

Recent and ongoing investments include:

• Replacement of the aging M/V Tustumena
• Major upgrades to the M/V Kennicott
• Construction of the Cascade Point Ferry Terminal
• Crew quarters additions to the M/V Tazlina
• Rehabilitation or reconstruction projects at 12 AMHS ferry terminals statewide

For updated sailing schedules and travel reservations, visit: 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.”