Alaskan Ferry Embarks on Maiden Voyage Five Years After Being Delivered

Measuring 280 feet in length and with a capacity of 3000 dwt, the HUBBARD was designed to accommodate up to 300 passengers and 53 cars, with a crew of 14 members. Originally ordered in 2014, the vessel was delivered in 2018. Its intended purpose was to provide ferry services in the vicinity of Juneau, the state capital, and along the Lynn Canal.

Under a US Coast Guard rule, ferry crews are limited to a maximum of 12 working hours per day, which must be followed by designated rest periods. Initially, there were plans to extend the existing road system, thereby reducing the need for long journeys by ship. Consequently, the HUBBARD was not designed with crew sleeping quarters. However, the extension of the road system did not come through, rendering the vessel essentially unusable.

Upon the ferry’s delivery in 2018, it became evident that modifications were necessary to incorporate crew accommodations in order to make the vessel operational. In 2021, a bidding process was initiated to add the required accommodations to the HUBBARD.

The modifications, costing $15 million, were carried out at the Vigor Shipyard in Ketchikan. The additions included eight single-person staterooms on the Bridge deck, as well as two-person staterooms on the Upper deck. Furthermore, a galley, scullery, mess spaces, and other necessary changes were made to the ship.

On May 23rd, the US Coast Guard cleared the vessel and issued a certificate of inspection, allowing the HUBBARD to embark on its maiden voyage with passengers. AMS executives have noted that these modifications have significantly expanded the vessel’s operating range.

The HUBBARD operates six days a week, serving the routes between Juneau, Haines, and Skagway.