A Spanish maritime firm has purchased the Alaska Marine Highway System’s fast ferries Fairweather and Chenega for a total of over $5.1 million, with plans to transport both vessels to Spain in the coming weeks.
State Transportation Commissioner John MacKinnon hailed the sale to Servicios y Concesiones Maritimas Ibicencas S.A. of Ibiza, Spain as a significant milestone in agency’s long-term vision to reshape AMHS to provide a more sustainable and affordable level of service.
The Chenega sold for $3,111,111 and the Fairweather for $2,063,333. AMHS plans to transfer the proceeds to its vessel construction fund to use for maintenance and construction.
Plans to sell the fast ferries were announced in 2019, due the high operating costs of both vessels. The ferries were first offered to other state agencies and Alaska municipalities to be used for transportation purposes, but after finding no interest in them, the state put the vessels up for sale outside of Alaska.
AMHS opened the loan bid from the Spanish firm on Jan.13, and subsequently negotiated a deal with the company.
