Marine Vessel Kennicott, considered the workhorse of the Alaska Marine Highway System is heading into the Ketchikan shipyard for overhaul on Thursday, January 14th. The estimate indicates that the overhaul will take longer than originally planned due to the extent of the work needed, vendor delays, and supply chain issues, according to an AMHS press release.
The M/V Kennicott is now expected to be in overhaul for 98 days, with a return to service on April 21st. The vessel would have gone into the overhaul earlier, but extended its sailing schedule through January 13, 2022 to cover Upper Lynn Canal communities and legislative travel as a result of the Matanuska extension in the shipyard.
The extended overhaul affects sailings, particularly cancellations in Bellingham. The AMHS reservation specialists are currently reaching out to all affected passengers to assist with alternative arrangements.
During the summer months, the M/V Kennicott connects the regions of Southeast Alaska to South Central with sailings across the Gulf of Alaska.
Built in Seattle, Washington, the M/V Kennicott is one of the younger vessels in the AMHS system, at 23 years old. It has the capacity of up to 499 passengers, up to 78 vehicles and has cabins for overnight sailings. The Kennicott can be transformed into a command center for emergency teams responding to a marine disaster. It has had little time in the shipyard over the past two years and has an extensive checklist of maintenance items.
Photo credits – courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Facebook page.