Skagway ferry terminal repairs move to emergency contract with no reopening date

Vehicle and passenger ferry operations at the Skagway Ferry Terminal remain suspended with no date set for reopening. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said Wednesday that crews will replace six anchor chains, stabilize the terminal float and repair a damaged concrete abutment under an emergency contract.

Commercial divers found damage to portions of the anchor-chain system during underwater inspections of the float, the department said. DOT&PF engineers are still assessing those findings and will monitor conditions during the work. Crews are preparing to remove the vehicle transfer bridge and the passenger walkway to reach the float and the landside abutment.

"Our goal is to restore service as quickly as possible, but the terminal will not reopen until the float is stable, the abutment is repaired, and our engineers determine the facility is safe," said Marine Highway Director Craig Tornga.

The closure is not the department's first look at the float. A February 2026 DOT&PF public notice proposed replacing deteriorated anchor chain at 19 locations along the concrete float under Project SFHWY00679, and warned of a potential closure of up to one week during construction anticipated as early as late spring. Engineering and environmental review for that project opened in April 2025.

The ferry system's website carried no notice of the closure on its homepage or its service notices page Wednesday night. A Skagway service alert that appeared on the Alaska Marine Highway System homepage on Aug. 15 was absent, as was the notification panel that had carried it.

Private passenger ferry operators are running supplemental service during the closure, distinct from the suspended AMHS vehicle and passenger runs. Travelers with vehicles can drive between Skagway and Haines through Canada and connect with AMHS service in Haines, where the system is allowing additional time where operationally feasible. Canadian border-crossing requirements apply.

The department said it is advancing the work with the Klondike Road Relay, scheduled for Sept. 11, in mind, and will coordinate with organizers and the Municipality of Skagway if the closure affects the event. The Skagway terminal office remains open for reservations. Passengers can call 1-800-642-0066 for sailing information.