MV Chenega

The M/V "Chenega" is a fast ferry catamaran and the newest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway System.

The M/V "Chenega" was built by Derecktor Shipyards in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 2004 and 2005 and came into service in the latter year. It is powered by four diesel engines and water jets for a service speed of 32 knots which is only matched in the Alaska Marine Highway by its older sister ship, the M/V "Fairweather".

Route

The "Chenega" ran into controversy from virtually the day it came into service. The "Chenega" had long been promised to service Prince William Sound year-round, and starting in the summer of 2005, however it came into service later than scheduled and the state of Alaska soon reneged on its promise for full-time Prince William Sound service and transferred the Chenega to its current route between Ketchikan and Petersburg with occasional stops in Wrangell for the winter. The new plan is to have the "Chenega" run this Southeast Alaska route in the winter and then transfer the ferry up to Prince William Sound in the summer. This is especially controversial because unlike feeder and mainline ferry vessels, the fast ferries only operate in the day thus their crews live in their homeports offering additional economic stimulus to its host community. Because of this, Cordova, the "Chenega"'s Prince William Sound home, was especially outraged after the decision to transfer the boat to Ketchikan. In the winter, the M/V "Aurora" takes the "Chenega"'s place running the Prince William Sound route.

Trivia

*The "Chenega"'s amenities include a small movie lounge, rear observation deck/solarium, and cafeteria (no kitchen, prepared food only).

External links

* [http://www.ferryalaska.com Official Alaska Marine Highway site]