84-722: The Alaska Marine Highway ( AMH ) or the Alaska Marine Highway System ( AMHS ) is a ferry service operated by the U.S. state of Alaska . It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska . The Alaska Marine Highway System operates along the south-central coast of the state, the eastern Aleutian Islands and the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia , Canada. Ferries serve communities in Southeast Alaska that have no road access, and
168-485: A water taxi or water bus . Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities and islands, allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels . Ship connections of much larger distances (such as over long distances in water bodies like the Mediterranean Sea ) may also be called ferry services, and many carry vehicles. The profession of
252-536: A 12-hour shift. In 2004, the MV Lituya was added to the fleet to make the 16.5-nautical-mile (30.6 km) trip between Ketchikan and Metlakatla in Southeast. With a design heavily influenced by oil rig supply vessels, she is unique among the fleet with an open car deck and limited passenger facilities. Costing only $ 9.5 million ($ 15 million today), her low fuel consumption and small crew complement make her
336-616: A 20-year lease with the city of Bellingham . Facing the need to increase capacity, both the Matanuska and Malaspina were stretched by 56 feet, beyond the capacity of some of the smaller harbors and leaving the Taku as the only AMHS ship in Southeast able to serve some of the smaller communities. To serve the smaller communities of Southeast, the AMHS ordered the MV LeConte in 1974 and
420-433: A car ferry still departs from each harbor every 15 minutes during daytime. The route is around 2.2 nautical miles (4.1 km; 2.5 mi) and the crossing takes 22 minutes. Today, all ferries on this route are constructed so that they do not need to turn around in the harbors. This also means that the ferries lack stems and sterns, since the vessels sail in both directions. Starboard and port-side are dynamic, depending on
504-655: A draft of 9 feet (2.7 meters). It was capable of travelling up to 6 knots with the side wheel turned by its 450-horsepower, single-cylinder, two-cycle steam engine. Launched in 1872, Suhulet's unique features consisted of a symmetrical entry and exit for horse carriages, along with a dual system of hatchways. The ferry operated on the Üsküdar-Kabataş route, which is still serviced by modern ferries today. In Hong Kong , Star Ferry carries passengers across Victoria Harbour . Other carriers ferry travelers between Hong Kong Island and outlying islands like Cheung Chau , Lantau Island and Lamma Island . The Malaysian state of Penang
588-482: A high percentage of tourists in the summer, and provide service between Bellingham, Washington, or Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and Skagway, Alaska. Along the way, the ships stop in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, and Haines. The smaller communities Kake and Hoonah are served by certain mainline sailings. During 2008, the five largest AMHS vessels were used on the Southeast mainline routes. These were
672-910: A network of smaller ferries, or water taxis , that shuttle commuters along the Hudson River from locations in New Jersey and Northern Manhattan down to the midtown, downtown and Wall Street business centers. Several ferry companies also offer service linking midtown and lower Manhattan with locations in the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn , crossing the city's East River . New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in February 2015 that city would begin an expanded Citywide Ferry Service, and launched as NYC Ferry in 2017, linking heretofore relatively isolated communities such as Manhattan 's Lower East Side , Soundview in The Bronx , Astoria and
756-591: A number which may be higher due to the prevalence of unregistered vessels. In 2014, the launch Pinak 6 sank in the Padma River with more than 200 passengers aboard near Munshiganj's Louhajang Upazila . Due to the geographical features of Russia, it has a large number of both sea and river ferry crossings. Car ferries operate from the continental part of Russia to Sakhalin, Kamchatka and Japan. The Ust-Luga – Kaliningrad ferry also runs, until February 2022 ferries also ran from St. Petersburg to different cities of
840-433: Is SeaBus . Canada's east coast has been home to numerous inter- and intra-provincial ferry and coastal services, including a large network operated by the federal government under CN Marine and later Marine Atlantic . Private and publicly owned ferry operations in eastern Canada include Marine Atlantic, serving the island of Newfoundland , as well as Bay , NFL , CTMA , Coastal Transport , and STQ . Canadian waters in
924-631: Is a part of the larger Sagar Mala project . Water transport in Mumbai consists of ferries, hovercraft, and catamarans, operated by various government agencies as well as private entities. The Kerala State Water Transport Department (SWTD), operating under the Ministry of Transport, Government of Kerala , India regulates the inland navigation systems in the Indian state of Kerala and provides inland water transport facilities. It stands for catering to
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#17327649258091008-1058: Is also operated from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs during the summer and fall. As there are no bridges or tunnels connecting the islands to the mainland, The Steamship Authority ferries in addition to being the only method for transporting private cars to or from the islands, also ferry heavy freight and supplies, such as construction materials and fuel, competing with tug and barge companies. Additionally, Hy-Line Cruises operates high-speed catamaran service from Hyannis to both islands, and several smaller operations run seasonal passenger-only service primarily geared towards tourist day-trippers from other mainland ports, including New Bedford , (New Bedford Fast Ferry) Falmouth , (Island Queen ferry and Falmouth Ferry) and Harwich (Freedom Cruise Line). Ferries also bring riders and vehicles across Long Island Sound to such Connecticut cities as Bridgeport and New London , and to Block Island in Rhode Island from points on Long Island . Transbay commuting in
1092-665: Is essential in the region. The state operates twelve routes, eight of which are under the oversight of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division , three of which are under the direct oversight of the North Carolina Department of Transportation , and one of which is under the oversight of the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation . Three of the Ferry Division routes are tolled, and all ferry routes operated by
1176-729: Is hand powered. Due to the numbers of large freshwater lakes and length of shoreline in Canada, various provinces and territories have ferry services. BC Ferries operates the third largest ferry service in the world which carries travellers between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland on the country's west coast. This ferry service operates to other islands including the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii . In 2015, BC Ferries carried more than 8 million vehicles and 20 million passengers. In Vancouver there
1260-837: Is home to the oldest ferry service in the country. This service, now called Rapid Ferry , connects the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal at Weld Quay in George Town on Penang Island with the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth on Peninsular Malaysia . It has also become a tourist attraction among foreigners. In the Philippines , the Philippine Nautical Highway System forms
1344-480: Is made possible by two ferry lines Shepler's Ferry and Mackinac Island Ferry Company (formerly Star Line) . A ferry service runs between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan operated by Lake Express . Another ferry SS Badger operates between Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan . Both cross Lake Michigan . Numerous additional inland ferry routes exist in the United States, such as
1428-512: Is no alternative crossing of the river. The busiest seaway in the world, the English Channel , connects Great Britain and mainland Europe, with ships sailing from the UK ports of Dover , Newhaven , Poole, Portsmouth and Plymouth to French ports, such as Calais , Dunkirk , Dieppe , Roscoff , Cherbourg-Octeville , Caen , St Malo and Le Havre . The busiest ferry route to France is
1512-466: Is the kosha, a small, highly manoeuvrable boat that is easy to operate. These various traditional wooden boats play a vital role in providing transportation during the rainy season when other modes become impractical due to flooding. The ferries are often overloaded and continue to operate in poor weather; many people die each year in ferry and launch accidents. From 2005 to 2015, nearly 1,800 casualties have been reported due to river transport incidents,
1596-596: Is the Algiers Ferry, which has been in continuous operation since 1827 and is one of the oldest operating ferries in North America. In New England, vehicle-carrying ferry services between mainland Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are operated by The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority , which sails year-round between Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven as well as Hyannis and Nantucket . Seasonal service
1680-541: Is the San Francisco ferry system, which will receive $ 11.5 million to improve the connection between Treasure Island and Mission Bay. In Maine, the ferry system will be upgraded in Lincolnville and Islesboro. Additionally, Alaska will receive a significant $ 106.4 million grant to replace a 60-year-old vessel operating in the southwest. This vessel is a crucial connector for the region. These grants are part of
1764-916: The Alaska Marine Highway . Wickersham was the second vessel, after the MV ; Chilkat , in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet to not have been constructed specifically for AMHS, but was rather acquired for from the Stena Line , where it was known as the Stena Britannica and served the Kiel , Germany – Gothenburg , Sweden route. Constructed just one year prior to its purchase by AMHS in April 1968, her arrival and status as an "oceangoing" vessel allowed AMHS to expand
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#17327649258091848-504: The Baltic Sea between Finland , Åland , Sweden , Estonia , Latvia and Saint Petersburg , Russia . In many ways, these ferries are like cruise ships , but they can also carry hundreds of cars on car decks. Besides providing passenger and car transport across the sea, Baltic Sea cruise-ferries are a popular tourist destination unto themselves, with multiple restaurants, nightclubs, bars, shops and entertainment on board. Helsinki
1932-484: The Canary Islands , but were recently replaced by faster catamaran "high speed" ferries that can carry cars. Their replacement by the larger craft is seen by critics as a retrograde step given that the new vessels use much more fuel and foster the inappropriate use of cars in islands already suffering from the impact of mass tourism. MV Wickersham The MV Wickersham was a mainline ferry vessel for
2016-768: The Cave-In-Rock Ferry across the Ohio River, and the Benton-Houston Ferry across the Tennessee River. The FTA announced in September 2024 that it would award $ 300 million in grants to modernize ferry systems in the United States. These grants will support 18 projects across 14 states, emphasizing upgrading environmentally friendly propulsion systems. Eight of the 18 projects will receive funding for this purpose. One notable project
2100-755: The Chilkat moved to Prince William Sound , and the AMHS started service in Southcentral. In 1969, that service was expanded with the addition of the MV E.L. Bartlett , in service with the state until 2004. In 1967, two events acted to severely restrict transportation to and from Southeast Alaska. A slide took out the Alaska Highway to the North, and BC Ferries MV Queen of Prince Rupert ran aground, severely limiting transfer passengers' ability to move between
2184-796: The Great Lakes once hosted numerous ferry services, but these have been reduced to those offered by Owen Sound Transportation and several smaller operations. There are also several commuter passenger ferry services operated in major cities, such as Metro Transit in Halifax , and Toronto Island ferries in Toronto. There is also the Société des traversiers du Québec . Due to the North Carolina coast's geography, consisting of numerous sounds, inlets, tidal arms, and islands, ferry transportation
2268-534: The Gulf of Alaska . AMHS provides affordable access to many small communities with no road connection or airport. The Staten Island Ferry in New York City , sailing between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island , is the nation's single busiest ferry route by passenger volume. Unlike riders on many other ferry services, Staten Island Ferry passengers do not pay any fare to ride it. New York City also has
2352-766: The Jones Act ). Initially, the State of Alaska had felt they would be able to get a waiver of the Jones Act for the Wickersham, but that request was blocked, severely limiting the scheduling flexibility of the ship. While the Wickersham could pick up passengers in Washington State and deliver them to Alaska if there were an intermediary stop in Canada, moving passengers within Alaska was not allowed. Additionally, as
2436-640: The MV Aurora in 1978. These would be the last new ships built for the AMHS for 20 years, ending the initial construction of the AMHS. On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound. The State of Alaska's on scene response was managed from the E.L. Bartlett, later relieved by the Aurora. Suction trucks were placed in the car-deck, temporarily converting
2520-777: The MV Tazlina was delivered in August 2018 by the Vigor Shipyard in Ketchikan, AK, and the MV Hubbard was launched in June 2023. All current vessels are named after Alaskan glaciers . In addition to the current fleet, the following vessels have been retired: The AMHS carries around 350,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles every year. In their 2008 Annual Traffic Volume Report, the Alaska Marine Highway reported moving 340,412 passengers and 109,839 vehicles; equating to
2604-473: The MV Columbia , MV Kennicott , MV Malaspina , MV Matanuska , and the MV Taku . Day boat service was also provided on the North Lynn Canal route during the peak summer season by MV Malaspina. This route provides round-trip service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway. The day boat routes connect the smaller communities of Southeast Alaska with each other and with
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2688-741: The National Park Service . Until the completion of the Mackinac Bridge in the 1950s, ferries were used for vehicle transportation between the Lower and the Upper Peninsulas of Michigan , across the Straits of Mackinac in the United States. Ferry service for bicycles and passengers continues across the straits for transport to Mackinac Island , where motorized vehicles are almost completely prohibited. This crossing
2772-535: The North Island with Picton in the South Island , linking New Zealand's two main islands. The route is 92 kilometres (57 mi), and is run by two companies – government-owned Interislander , and independent Bluebridge , who say the trip takes three and half hours. Ferry designs depend on the length of the route, the passenger or vehicle capacity required, speed requirements and the water conditions
2856-572: The P&;O Pioneer , which entered service in June 2023 replacing Pride of Kent. Hydrofoils have the advantage of higher cruising speeds, succeeding hovercraft on some English Channel routes where the ferries now compete against the Eurotunnel and Eurostar trains that use the Channel Tunnel . Passenger-only hydrofoils also proved a practical, fast and relatively economical solution in
2940-560: The San Francisco Bay Area was primarily ferry-based until the advent of automobiles in the 1940s, and most bridges in the area were built to supplant ferry services. By the 1970s, ferries were primarily used by tourists with Golden Gate Ferry , an organization under the ownership of the same governing body as the Golden Gate Bridge , left as the sole commute operator. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake prompted
3024-490: The Seikan Tunnel and Honshū–Shikoku Bridge Project ) have been constructed, the ferry transportation has recently become for short-distance sightseeing passengers with or without car, and for long-distance truck drivers hauling goods. The country's extensive river network makes ferries a practical and affordable mode of transport. Passenger ferries, locally referred to as "launches," are widely used to travel to
3108-544: The AMHS Southern terminus of Prince Rupert, British Columbia to Seattle . Until this time, portions of the passage between Southeast Alaska and Washington State were classified as outside waters, and none of the vessels the AMHS operated in Southeast Alaska had the necessary ocean-going certification required to carry passengers on outside waters. Citing the need for a transportation link between Alaska and
3192-611: The AMHS looked abroad to find a quicker solution. The Stena Britannica , just a year old, was purchased and rechristened the MV Wickersham . While the Wickersham was relatively inexpensive to purchase, and could be added to the system quickly, she was never re-flagged as an American ship, and so commercial operation between US ports of call was a violation of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (commonly known as
3276-487: The Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands. The MV Tustumena provides regular service between Kodiak, Port Lions, Seldovia and Homer. In 2008, between April and October, the MV Tustumena traveled out the Aleutian chain once a month to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, stopping at Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, False Pass, Akutan and Cold Bay. This trip is not made in the winter because of adverse weather conditions. In 2008 service in Prince William Sound to Valdez, Cordova and Whittier
3360-463: The Baltic Sea has several routes mainly for heavy traffic and cars. The ferry routes of Rødby - Puttgarden , Trelleborg - Rostock , Trelleborg - Travemünde , Trelleborg - Świnoujście , Gedser - Rostock , Gdynia - Karlskrona , and Ystad - Świnoujście are all typical transports ferries. On the longer of these routes, simple cabins are available. Some of these routes previously also carried trains, but since 2020 these trains are instead routed around
3444-406: The Baltic Sea. Before the construction of the Kerch Bridge, there was a ferry across the Kerch Strait, whose service was resumed after the Kerch bridge explosion . There are also more than 100 ferry crossings on different rivers in Russia. These are usually symmetrical through ferries with two ramps for quick entry and exit of cars. For some categories of car owners, these ferries may be free if there
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3528-468: The Baltic via the Great Belt fixed link and Jutland . In Istanbul , ferries connect the European and Asian shores of Bosphorus , as well as Princes' Islands and nearby coastal towns. In 2014, İDO transported 47 million passengers, the largest ferry system in the world. The largest ferry system in Italy is in Venice , the city best known for its extensive canals. Called Water Taxis ( Italian : Veniza Taxi ), they provide service all around
3612-411: The Dover to Calais crossing with approximately 9,168,000 passengers using the service in 2018. Ferries from Great Britain also sail to Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Ireland. Some ferries carry mainly tourist traffic, but most also carry freight, and some are exclusively for the use of freight lorries. In Britain, car-carrying ferries are sometimes referred to as RORO (roll-on, roll-off) for
3696-560: The FTA's efforts to improve ferry transportation in the United States and promote sustainable transportation options. Mexico has ferry services run by Baja Ferries that connect La Paz located on the Baja California Peninsula with Mazatlán and Topolobampo . Passenger ferries also run from Playa del Carmen to the island of Cozumel . There are several ferries in South America. Chacao Channel has ferry lines. In Australia, two Spirit of Tasmania ferries carry passengers and vehicles 450 kilometres (280 mi) across Bass Strait ,
3780-445: The MV Columbia , a sit-down restaurant are also offered. In July 2011 the Marine Highway began the bidding process to build the first of what they refer to as "Alaska-Class Vessels", made to travel shorter routes. They would not have staterooms available for passengers. One hundred-twenty million dollars were set aside for the project, and the future ships names were selected from a contest amongst Alaska students. The first ferry named
3864-399: The North Carolina Department of Transportation carry both vehicles and pedestrians, although certain vessels only carry pedestrians and cyclists. The National Park Service additionally works with private companies to offer ferry service to locations such as Cape Lookout and Portsmouth . Washington State Ferries operates the most extensive ferry system in the continental United States and
3948-479: The Rockaways in Queens and such Brooklyn neighborhoods as Bay Ridge , Sunset Park , and Red Hook with existing ferry landings in Lower Manhattan and Midtown Manhattan . A second expansion phase connected Staten Island to the West Side of Manhattan, and added a stop in Throgs Neck, in the Bronx. NYC Ferry is now the largest passenger fleet in the United States. The New Orleans area also has many ferries that carry both vehicles and pedestrians. Most notable
4032-406: The Southeast Alaska mainline communities (Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway) that serve as regional centers for commerce, government health services, and/or connections to other transportation systems. The day boat routes primarily serve local residents, and include Angoon, Hoonah, Kake, Metlakatla, Pelican, and Tenakee. In 2008, three AMHS vessels provided service on
4116-412: The Wickersham was not specifically built for Alaskan ports, she was limited as to which ports she could dock at. The AMHS ordered the new construction of the MV Columbia , which replaced the Wickersham on the mainline Seattle route in 1974. The southern terminus of the AMHS remained in Seattle until October 1989, when it moved to the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven, Washington , after signing
4200-592: The backbone of the nationwide transport system by integrating ports with highway systems; the system has three main routes. Another known ferry service is the Pasig River Ferry Service , which is the only water-based transportation in Metro Manila . This system cruises the Pasig River . India's ro-ro ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 October 2017. It aims to connect South Gujarat and Saurashtra currently separated by 360 kilometres (220 mi) of roadway to 31 kilometres (19 mi) of ferry service. It
4284-558: The body of water that separates Tasmania from the Australian mainland, often under turbulent sea conditions. These run overnight but also include day crossings in peak time. Both ferries are based in the northern Tasmanian port city of Devonport and sail to Geelong . Before Geelong this ferry used to sail to Melbourne . The double-ended Freshwater-class ferry cuts an iconic shape as it makes its way up and down Sydney Harbour New South Wales , Australia between Manly and Circular Quay . In New Zealand, ferries connect Wellington in
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#17327649258094368-413: The city's canals . They can comfortably carry up to 10 people, and can take individuals from the airport to their hotel. There are several companies that offer this service, including Vaporetto and Alilaguna. They operate on a series of lines that stop at different locations around Venice. The world's shortest ferry line is the Ferry Lina in Töreboda , Sweden . It takes around 20–25 seconds and
4452-499: The country, especially during the rainy season. These boats transport over 1.2 million tonnes of freight annually. Among these are the dingi , which is the oldest form of Bengal boat. Larger cargo boats includes vessels such as the balam , bajra and sampan . Under the category of bainkata (flat-bottomed) boats are the ghasi , gachari , dorakha , kathami , mallar , patam and panshi , among others. Ubiquitous throughout Bangladesh, especially in monsoon flood-prone regions,
4536-538: The craft must deal with. Double-ended ferries have interchangeable bows and sterns, allowing them to shuttle back and forth between two terminals without having to turn around. Well-known double-ended ferry systems include the BC Ferries , the Staten Island Ferry , Washington State Ferries , Star Ferry , several ferries on the North Carolina Ferry System , and the Lake Champlain Transportation Company . Most Norwegian fjord and coastal ferries are double-ended vessels. All ferries from southern Prince Edward Island to
4620-445: The day boat routes. These were the MV LeConte , the MV Fairweather and the MV Lituya . The MV Lituya is dedicated to providing day boat service between Ketchikan and Metlakatla. The Southeast System connects with the continental road system at Bellingham, Washington, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and in Alaska at Haines and Skagway. When the MV Kennicott , a vessel certified to operate in open waters, joined
4704-423: The decline in passenger and vehicle traffic (attributed to a lack of tourists). Together, these services cover the length of the Inside Passage . They connect at a number of locations. Ferry A ferry is a boat that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice , Italy , is sometimes referred to as
4788-411: The direction the ferry sails. Despite the short crossing, the ferries are equipped with restaurants (on three out of four ferries), cafeterias, and kiosks. Passengers without cars often make a double or triple return journey in the restaurants; for this, a single journey ticket is sufficient. Passenger and bicycle passenger tickets are inexpensive compared with longer routes. Large cruiseferries sail in
4872-488: The docking of these vessels, and oversees 380 launch terminals. There are 53 roll-on/roll-off ferries running on seven routes across the country: Paturia–Daulatdia, Aricha–Kazirhat, Shimulia–Banglabazar, Bhola–Lakshmipur, Lajarhat–Veduria, Char Kalipur–Kalipur Bazar and Harinaghat Chandpur–Shariatpur. More than 800,000 small and medium wooden sailboats and rowboats , often retrofitted to be motorised, are an important means of transportation for people and goods across
4956-405: The ease by which vehicles can board and leave. The busiest single ferry route in terms of the number of departures is across the northern part of Øresund , between Helsingborg , Scania , Sweden and Elsinore , Denmark . Before the Øresund bridge was opened in July 2000, car and "car and train" ferries departed up to seven times every hour (every 8.5 minutes). This has since been reduced, but
5040-460: The ferry into a spill response vessel. The State of Alaska determined a new vessel was necessary, and the new vessel should be designed from the beginning to be able to take on a command and control role in the case of another disaster. Funded in part by settlement money from Exxon, the MV Kennicott joined the system in 1998. New construction since the Kennicott has focused on day boats, which can run their expected schedule and return home within
5124-411: The ferry system throughout the Southeast and Southcentral regions. The package included 4 new vessels and new docks throughout. The first of these new vessels built was the MV Malaspina , followed closely by the MV Matanuska and MV Taku . With 3 new ships, and a new name, the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) was born. The following year, the ocean-certified MV Tustumena was completed,
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#17327649258095208-494: The ferryman is embodied in Greek mythology in Charon , the boatman who transported souls across the River Styx to the Underworld . Speculation that a pair of oxen propelled a ship having a water wheel can be found in 4th century Roman literature " Anonymus De Rebus Bellicis ". Though impractical, there is no reason why it could not work and such a ferry, modified by using horses, was used in Lake Champlain in 19th-century America. See Experiment (horse powered boat) . In 1850
5292-480: The fleet in the summer 1998 the ferry system expanded to include regular cross-gulf sailings. Also known as "inter-tie trips", these sailings connect Southeastern Alaska with Southcentral and Southwest regions of the state. All cross-gulf trips include a stop at the port of Yakutat , a community unique in that it is served only on a cross-gulf route. During 2008, the AMHS provided Yakutat with 10 port calls. The Southwest system serves Prince William Sound, Kodiak Island,
5376-582: The following communities year-round: The following vessels, from smallest to largest, currently serve in the Alaska Marine Highway's fleet: Most Alaska Marine Highway System vessels are built for multiple-day voyages due to the large distances between ports. For example, it takes just under three days to travel from Bellingham to Skagway, and 18 hours for the Sitka to Juneau "milk run". Because of this, larger vessels (MV Tustumena and larger) come with staterooms, while all mainline vessels have solariums , showers, and lounges for sleeping. Hot food services and, on
5460-506: The highest passenger ridership in eight years and the highest vehicle ridership in sixteen. The Ferry is very popular with summer tourists (one of the primary reasons Bellingham and Prince Rupert are AMHS destinations). Tent cities commonly sprout up on the aft of mainline vessels, and for budget travellers, the AMHS is one of the top modes of transportation to the "Last Frontier". Service drops off significantly in winter. Vessels usually undergo overhauls and renovations during this period due to
5544-443: The luxury of a typical cruise line, cabins cost extra, and most food is served cafeteria-style . The forerunner to the Alaska Marine Highway was the Chilkoot Motorship Lines, founded in 1948 by Haines residents Steve Homer and Ray Gelotte. The company used a converted LCT-Mark VI landing craft , christened the MV Chilkoot . They operated a weekly service from Tee Harbor (north of Juneau) to Haines and Skagway, connecting
5628-452: The mainland of Canada were double-ended. This service was discontinued upon completion of the Confederation Bridge . Some ferries in Sydney, Australia and British Columbia are also double-ended. In 2008, BC Ferries launched the first of the Coastal-class ferries , which at the time were the world's largest double enders. These were surpassed as the world's largest double-enders when P&O Ferries launched their first double-ender, called
5712-425: The most economical vessel in the fleet, giving the AMHS real-world data on the effectiveness of small, short-haul ferries in Southeast waters. In 2019, a labor strike involving over 400 members of the Inlandboatman's Union of the Pacific shut down the AMH for several days between July 24 and August 2. This strike, the first one the AMH had seen in 42 years, led to a $ 3.2 million loss in revenue and reimbursements and
5796-415: The only method of transportation of vehicles between the state and the contiguous United States not requiring international customs and immigration. The Alaska Marine Highway System is a rare example in the U.S. of a shipping line offering regularly scheduled service for the primary purpose of transportation of passengers rather than of leisure or entertainment. Voyages can last many days, but, in contrast to
5880-516: The passenger and cargo traffic needs of the inhabitants of the waterlogged areas of the Districts of Alappuzha , Kottayam , Kollam , Ernakulam , Kannur and Kasargode . SWTD ferry service is also one of the most affordable modes to enjoy the beauty of the scenic Kerala backwaters . Japan used to rely heavily on ferries for passenger and goods transportation among the four main islands of Hokkaido , Honshu , Shikoku and Kyushu . However, as highway and railway bridges and undersea tunnels (such as
5964-410: The ports of Seattle and Prince Rupert. Her large size and draft which served her well in the turbulent waters of Dixon Entrance and other exposed portions of the Alaska-Washington voyage, were too great to slip through passages of water such as Peril Strait en route to Sitka, which forced her to approach Sitka from the outer coast of Baranof Island and through the Pacific Ocean . With the debut of
6048-401: The rest of the United States, then governor Wally Hickel ordered the AMHS to send a vessel south to Seattle while putting a request to Congress to re-classify the route as inside waters. The federal government agreed to do so, which left the AMHS with a significantly longer route system, and no new vessels to serve it. Faced with the lengthy construction time and cost of building a new vessel,
6132-456: The restoration of service to the East Bay . The modern ferry network is primarily under the authority of San Francisco Bay Ferry , connecting with cities as far as Vallejo . Tourist excursions are also offered by Blue & Gold Fleet and Red & White Fleet . A ferry serves Angel Island (which also accepts private craft). Alcatraz is served exclusively by ferry service administered by
6216-636: The roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) ferry, Leviathan designed to carry freight wagons efficiently across the Firth of Forth in Scotland started to operate between Granton, near Edinburgh, and Burntisland in Fife. The vessel design was highly innovative and the ability to move freight in great quantities and with minimal labour signalled the way ahead for sea-borne transport, converting the ro-ro ferry from an experimental and marginal ship type into one of central importance in
6300-578: The second largest in the world by vehicles carried, with ten routes on Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca serving terminals in Washington and Vancouver Island. In 2016, Washington State Ferries carried 10.5 million vehicles and 24.2 million riders in total. The Alaska Marine Highway System provides service between Bellingham, Washington, and various towns and villages throughout Southeast and Southwest Alaska, including crossings of
6384-534: The southern and south-western regions of Bangladesh from the capital. The most popular destinations include Barisal , Bhola , Patuakhali , and Khulna . Additionally, there are water-transport routes connecting Dhaka with Kolkata in India. Approximately 200 launches operate across 107 water routes throughout the country as of 2022 . To support the launch services, the BIWTA has developed 292 wharfs ( ghats ) for
6468-709: The southern terminus of its route system south to Washington and the Port of Seattle . Due to the Passenger Services Act and laws of cabotage , however, the Wickersham could only undergo its Washington-Alaska voyages with an intermediate stop in Prince Rupert, British Columbia . Further complicating her service was her complicated bow unloading system which was only compatible with AMHS ports in Haines , Juneau , Ketchikan , and Sitka , in addition to
6552-644: The territorial capital to the international road system. The Chilkoot Motorship Lines was purchased by the territorial government , and moved under the Territorial Board of Road Commissioners in 1951. In 1957, the MV Chillkoot was replaced by the MV Chilkat , which remained a part of the system until being decommissioned in 1988. In 1959, the year Alaska became a state, voters approved an $ 18 million ($ 188 million today) bond package to improve
6636-684: The transport of goods and passengers. In 1871, the world's first car ferry crossed the Bosphorus in Istanbul. The iron steamship, named Suhulet (meaning 'ease' or 'convenience') was designed by the general manager of Şirket-i Hayriye (Bosporus Steam Navigation Company), Giritli Hüseyin Haki Bey and built by the Greenwich shipyard of Maudslay, Sons and Field . It weighed 157 tons, was 155 feet (47 meters) long, 27 feet (8.2 meters) wide and had
6720-474: The vessels can transport people, freight, and vehicles. AMHS's 3,500 miles (5,600 km) of routes go as far south as Bellingham, Washington , in the contiguous United States and as far west as Unalaska/Dutch Harbor , with a total of 32 terminals throughout Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. It is part of the National Highway System and receives federal highway funding. It is also
6804-802: The winter months when traffic demand was significantly reduced and weather conditions worsened, the MV Chenega was moved to North Lynn Canal to replace the Fairweather for its overhaul period. The MV Tustumena also underwent a CIP project, leaving the MV Aurora to provide service between the ports. The Alaska Marine Highway's main hub is in Juneau , though administrative offices are in Ketchikan . Other smaller operational hubs include Cordova ( Prince William Sound ), Ketchikan (southern Panhandle ), and Kodiak (Southcentral Alaska). The AMHS serves
6888-520: Was provided by the MV Aurora . The MV Chenega provided additional service during the summer season, and the MV Kennicott provided supplemental service. AMHS also provided fifty-five stops in the village of Tatitlek and thirty-six stops in Chenega Bay. Tourist passengers add a significant percentage to the Prince William Sound traffic in the summer, especially between Valdez and Whittier. In
6972-435: Was resolved with federal mediation. The southeast AMHS route system is divided into two subsystems: the mainline routes which typically take more than one day for the ship to travel; and shorter routes where the vessels depart their home port in the morning, travel to destination ports and then return to their home port on the same day. The shorter routes are commonly referred to as "day boat" routes. The mainline routes carry
7056-580: Was the busiest international passenger ferry port in the world in 2017 with over 11.8 million passengers whilst the second business international ferry port, Dover, had 11.7 million passengers. The Helsinki- Tallinn route alone accounted for nine million passengers. In 2022 the port of Helsinki had almost 8 million passengers, of which 6.3 million travelled between Helsinki and Tallinn. Additionally many smaller ferries operate on domestic routes in Finland, Sweden and Estonia. The south-west and southern parts of
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