Bellingham Cruise Terminal won’t see another Alaska ferry for weeks. Here’s why
It’s going to be nearly eight weeks before the next scheduled Alaska ferry will arrive in Bellingham.
The Alaska Marine Highway System announced in a news release that it is canceling sailings of the Matanuska ferry through Tuesday, April 14. The next available sailing scheduled to arrive in Bellingham is the Kennicott on Saturday, April 18, followed by Wednesday sailings on the Columbia ferry.
Mechanical issues put a halt to the Matanuska sailings to Bellingham in late January. The agency is unable to name a return service date for the ferry, but is working with Vigor Marine to get the ship repaired as soon as possible, according to the news release.
The Matanuska was overhauled in November 2019, so problems with the reduction-gear system is under warranty. It was the only mainline ferry operating this winter, now leaving many isolated Alaska communities stranded.
Until ferry service resumes, travel options include flights and barge services out of Seattle or driving through Canada, said Mike Hogan, spokesman for the Port of Bellingham. Impacted ferry passengers can get full refunds or re-book a trip by calling the Alaska ferry reservation desk at 800-642-0066.
Allegiant offers seasonal flights to Anchorage out of Bellingham, but that doesn’t start until May, according to the airline’s website.
Along with delays in food and groceries, the breakdown of the Matanuska may also impact the upcoming Alaska state basketball tournaments. The agency said it is working with schools and Alaska Airlines to get players and fans to those tournaments.
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 12:17 PM.
