M/V TUSTUMENA REPLACEMENT VESSEL
Naming the New Ferry Servicing Southwest Alaska
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has opened a statewide essay contest for students to propose a name for the vessel that will replace the MV Tustumena. The contest is open to all Alaska students in grades 6 through 12.
Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. Alaska time on Monday, November 23, 2026.
The Tustumena has served communities along the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands since 1964. DOT&PF awarded the construction contract for the replacement vessel on October 1, 2026.
Under AS 19.65.020, Alaska Marine Highway System maritime vessels must be named for Alaska glaciers, and vessel names must be established by law.
Learn more about the construction of the new vessel at the Tustumena Replacement Vessel webpage.
Alaska has 745 named glaciers. Students can browse the Alaska State Library’s list of glaciers.
The Contest
| WHO CAN ENTER | Alaska students in grades 6 through 12, public, private and homeschool |
| WHAT THEY SUBMIT | An essay of up to 300 words naming an Alaska glacier and explaining why it suits this vessel |
| HOW | Online form on the DOT&PF site, with student name, grade, school and community |
| LIMIT | One entry per student |
| DEADLINE | Entries close at 5pm AKST on Monday, Nov. 23, 2026 |
A selection committee will review the entries and announce one winning essay in December. DOT&PF will submit the student’s proposed name to the Alaska Legislature for consideration during the legislative session beginning in January 2027. The proposed name will become official only if enacted into law. If enacted, The essay will be framed and displayed aboard the vessel. |
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OTHER WAYS TO ENTER Essays may also be submitted by email or mail. By email: dot.response.log@alaska.gov, by 5 p.m. Alaska time on Monday, November 23, 2026. By mail, postmarked by Monday, November 23, 2026: Name a Ferry Contest Mailed and emailed entries must include the student’s name, grade, school, and community. |
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AMHS FERRY NAMES ALREADY IN USE
Current Vessels
Retired Vessels
THE RULES COME FROM STATUTE
| 19.65.020(a) | A vessel is named only by law. The contest produces a recommendation. The Legislature does the naming. |
| 19.65.020(b) | A maritime vessel bears the name of an Alaska glacier. Entries that propose anything else are ineligible, and the rules say so plainly. |
| 19.65.020(g) | Tazlina and Hubbard are named in statute. That is the precedent this follows. |
DATES
Entries close at 5pm AKST on Monday, Nov. 23, 2026
Judging week of November 30
Announcement in December, date TBD
Computer generated drawing version 1 of the TRV design concept
Engineering draft of the design concept