Ferry Columbia sidelined in Ketchikan for engine repairs, due back Nov. 8

The state ferry Columbia is out of service in Ketchikan with engine trouble and isn't scheduled to sail again until Sunday, Nov. 8, the Alaska Marine Highway System said Monday.

An inspection found the ship's port main engine needs a new cylinder liner and piston, according to the AMHS service notice. AMHS said it has secured the spare parts, and a specialized technician from Wärtsilä will arrive in Ketchikan on Thursday to make the repairs with the ship's engineering crew.

Passengers already aboard can stay on the ship. Those who leave to fly home or make other plans can get ticket reimbursements from Ketchikan terminal staff, who will also make arrangements for vehicles left behind.

Once it's fixed, the Columbia is scheduled to leave Ketchikan northbound at 1 pm Sunday and reach Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway by Tuesday, Nov. 10, according to the November schedule. The schedule shows no departure from Bellingham, Washington, on Friday, Nov. 6. The next one is Nov. 13. AMHS says return dates are estimates that can change as repairs progress.

The Columbia also had engine trouble in May, when engine trouble held it at the Whittier dock for more than four hours, delaying hundreds of passengers.

A longer break is coming. The proposed winter schedule would take the Columbia out for overhaul from Nov. 25 through April 30 and return it to its Bellingham route May 5, 2027. The proposal also schedules overhauls for several other ferries this winter, thinning service for roadless towns.