Alaska students can propose a glacier name for the Tustumena's replacement ferry

Alaska students in grades 6 through 12 can propose a name for the ferry that will replace the MV Tustumena, under an essay contest the state transportation department opened Friday.

The name has to be a glacier. State law requires Alaska Marine Highway ships to be named for Alaska glaciers. Alaska has 745 named glaciers, according to the contest page, which points students to the State Library's list.

Students get up to 300 words to make the case for their pick, one entry each. The contest page lists names the fleet already uses, including the Columbia, Kennicott, Matanuska and Hubbard, along with retired ones like Taku and Chilkat.

A selection committee will pick one winning essay in December. Because ferry names have to be set by law, the department will send the winner's choice to the Legislature, which convenes in January. The name becomes official only if lawmakers pass it.

If they do, the winning essay will be framed and displayed aboard the ship.

Entries are due by 5 pm Nov. 23. They are public records, and a student's essay, name, grade, school and community may be released on request, the contest page says.

The ship being replaced has been called the "Trusty Tusty." It has served the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutians since 1964, and it is the only state ferry able to reach all 13 ports between Homer and Unalaska, according to the ferry system's replacement page.

"This contest gives young Alaskans a chance to help name a vessel that will serve the next generation and continue that tradition of connection," Transportation Commissioner Ryan Anderson said.

In June, Louisiana-based Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors was the apparent low bidder to build the new ship, at about $350 million, $49 million over budget. The department says it awarded the construction contract Oct. 1. The project picked up $32.3 million more in federal money in September, Alaska News reported Oct. 2.