b'MEMBER NEWSNew Ferry Facility Planned for Skagway, AlaskaS kagway, Alaska will have the state as aPursuing port improvements for Alaskas partner as it plans to develop new ma- coastal communities is critically important rine facilities for both the Alaska Marineto AMHSs long term success, said Com-Highway System (AMHS), a PVA member,missionerRyanAnderson.Thisproject and commercial and private marine business- moves us closer to the goal that our vessels es. The partnership was outlined in an agree- can be used interchangeably throughout our ment signed by the Municipality of SkagwayAMHS network.(MOS) and the Alaska Department of Trans-portation&PublicFacilities(DOT&PF).Thisprojectiscloselyalignedwith The agreement includes preliminary design,DOT&PFs Charting the Course Initiative, MEMBER NEWS engineering, and a feasibility analysis.which supports the long-term health of Alas-New Ferry InAlaskascommunitiesareresourcefulandka coastal communities as part of the AMHS recovery plan. inventive,andthispartnershipfurther the Works fordemonstrates my administrations commit- Skagways economy is closely linked to its ment to making the Alaska Marine Highwayport and a new marine facility will allow the Systemmoredurableandreliable,saidcommunity to pursue commercial and rec-Maine StateGovernor Mike Dunleavy. reational marine traffic. Skagway has seen a steady uptick in commercial and recreational Ferry Service The facilities being considered at Ore Pen- marine vessel traffic in recent years. and insula will consist of an AMHS ferry berth, terminalbuilding,vehiclestagingarea,ThepartnershipbetweenSkagway parking, and associated facilities and relatedDOT&PF has a long history, starting when improvements. Skagway is interested in thethetwogovernmentsenteredintoa1978 T heMaineDepartmentofTranspor- development of a new ferry facility to replaceagreement to remove the old dock and re-the current aging dock threatened by ongo- place the existing floating dock and support-tation has awarded a contract for theing cliff erosion. ing infrastructure.construction of the Matinicus Island Replacement Ferry for the Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS), a PVA member.RENDERING COURTESY OF ECS FEDERAL - MARINE AND ENGINEERING DIVISIONThe104footpassenger/vehicleferryisde-signed by Gilbert Associates. Once completed, thepassenger/vehicleferrywillprovidethe Rockland-basedferryservicewithabrand-newvesselcapableofservicingtheMSFSs longest route to Matinicus Island (23 miles). It will provide the necessary upgrade to the ferryDIGITAL SHIPBUILDERSservice that transports nearly 500,000 passen- DESIGN. BUILD. CONSULT.gers and 190,000 vehicles annually. incatcrowther.comMSFS,adivisionofMaineDOT,servesthe islandcommunitiesofVinalhaven,North Haven, Islesboro, Swans Island, Frenchboro and Matinicus.SEASTREAK COMMODORE, SEASTREAK COURAGEOUS2 x 45m Catamaran Ro-Pax Ferries37 NOVEMBER 2022'