The M/V Tustumena needs additional extensive steel wastage repair in its engine room and now will remain at the Vigor Ketchikan Shipyard longer than previously anticipated, the Alaska Marine Highway System announced on May 4.
A repair plan developed in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard will ensure that the 53-year-old vessel is safe before service is resumed, AMHS officials said.
Thng affected passengers. For more information, call your local terminal or the AMHS central reservations office ataff are contace Tustumena is expected to return to service department Homer at 5 pm on July 18.
Originally scheduled to return to service on May 27, the Tustumena delay impacts communities in Southwest Alaska and along the Aleutian Chain. The vessel went in for a scheduled annual overhaul on March 13.
A replacement vessel has been designed, but still awaits funding through the pending fiscal year 2018 capital budget. For more information, call your local terminal or AMHS central reservations office at 1-907-465-3941 or toll free at 1-800-642-0066.
An updated schedule will be online at http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/pubs/
