Tusty Delayed in Ketchikan Shipyard – Will Miss First Scheduled Unalaska Run

The Alaska State Ferry Tustumena pulls into its homeport of Kodiak in this KMXT file photo.

Lauren Rosenthal/KUCB

Kodiak and Alaska Peninsula residents will have to wait a little longer for the Tustumena ferry to make its return to the region.

The Tusty’s first trips in May — including a run down to the Aleutian Chain — have been canceled due to delays in shipyard.

The vessel was only supposed to undergo minor repairs in Ketchikan this winter. But Department of Transportation spokesperson Jeremy Woodrow says the aging ferry needed some extra help.

“The work that they’re doing is focused on some hull structures in areas around the car deck,” he said. “Not significant items, but they are items that need to be repaired before the vessel can be certified by the Coast Guard.”

Woodrow says Coast Guard personnel will be checking in over the next few weeks to make sure the work meets their standards. He expects the vessel to return to service by May 12.

In the meantime, affected passengers will be contacted by the Alaska Marine Highway System to set up new reservations.