The MV Stikine Story of Construction and Success

The MV Stikine was a cargo ship that played a crucial role in the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was built in 1904 and was designed to navigate the challenging waters of the Pacific Northwest.

The ship was constructed by the Vancouver Shipbuilding Company, a renowned shipbuilder at the time. Its construction was a significant undertaking that required careful planning and execution.

The MV Stikine measured 240 feet in length and 36 feet in width, making it a sturdy vessel capable of carrying heavy loads. Its cargo capacity was approximately 1,200 tons, which was impressive for its time.

Its maiden voyage took place in 1905, transporting cargo between Vancouver and the port of Skagway, Alaska.

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Stikine was built with improvements from two years of operating experience with her sister ship, Prince of Wales.

The construction process was handled by Dakota Creek Industries of Anacortes, Washington, which had previously built Prince of Wales.

The contract price for Stikine was $16,940,984.

Her naval architect and owner's representative during the construction process was Guido Perla & Associates of Seattle, Washington.

Stikine was launched on January 23, 2006.

She was christened by Nancy Murkowski, First Lady of Alaska, with Governor Frank Murkowski speaking at the launch ceremonies.

Stikine is 197.5 feet long.

Her beam is 53 feet, and her draft is 11 feet.

Her gross tonnage is 2,334 and her net tonnage is 918.

The ship's hull is constructed of welded steel plates.

Stikine is certified to carry 190 passengers and 30 standard-sized cars.

MV Stikine made her maiden voyage on the northern route on May 18, 2006, and completed one round-trip per day between Coffman Cove and south Mitkoff Island, with a stop in Wrangell.

The trip from Coffman Cove to Mitkoff Island took about 4 hours and 45 minutes, with fares ranging from $49 for an adult to $7/foot for cars.

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The northern route operated only four days a week to avoid needing a second crew for Stikine. It also only operated in the summer when ferry traffic in Southeast Alaska peaked.

In early 2007, Prince of Wales returned to Anacortes for upgrades, and Stikine maintained the company's sailing schedule on the southern route between Hollis and Ketchikan.

During her first six weeks of operation in 2006, Stikine only carried 844 passengers and 199 vehicles. The northern route was eventually abandoned after three operational summers.

After the abandonment of the northern route, Stikine and Prince of Wales were dedicated to the southern route, with Stikine as the primary vessel due to her slightly greater capacity.

The trip between Hollis and Ketchikan takes three hours each way to cover the 36 miles.

The MV Stikine has a rich history that spans over a decade. She made her maiden voyage on the northern route on May 18, 2006.

The northern route was a challenging one, with the ferry traveling from Coffman Cove to south Mitkoff Island, with a stop in Wrangell. It took around 4 hours and 45 minutes to complete the trip.

During the summer months, the ferry would operate four days a week, but it couldn't sustain itself economically, with only 844 passengers and 199 vehicles in her first six weeks of operation.

The Inter-Island Ferry Authority experimented with various promotions to boost traffic, but it wasn't enough. After three operational summers, the northern route was abandoned in 2008.

In 2006, the IFA expanded its fleet with the addition of the MV Stikine, the sister ship of the Prince of Wales, to serve on the northern route. Unfortunately, the route was unable to sustain itself.

Today, the Stikine is the primary vessel for the Southern Route to Ketchikan, with the Prince of Wales filling in when necessary. She has a capacity for slightly more passengers and vehicles than her sister ship.

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The MV Stikine has had its fair share of delays and cancellations.

On Wednesday morning, the ferry was delayed by several hours due to a propeller problem that required it to return to Hollis.

Passengers traveling from Prince of Wales Island had their arrival in Ketchikan delayed by several hours.

The ferry lost pitch control on one of the ship's two shafts, forcing it to head back to Hollis for repairs.

The IFA dispatched its other ferry, the Prince of Wales, to Hollis to replace the Stikine.

The Prince of Wales was expected to arrive in Ketchikan with the Stikine passengers at about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The Stikine eventually sailed to Ketchikan for repair, arriving at Ward Cove by about 2:10 p.m.

The breakdown of the Stikine has led to the cancellation of all sailings until further notice.

The IFA's lone working ferry broke down Wednesday, stranding some Prince of Wales Island residents in Ketchikan.

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Repairs are expected to take until Nov. 1, leaving the IFA without any working ferries.

The M/V Prince of Wales broke down in May in what the ferry authority described as a “catastrophic propulsion system failure.”

The ferry authority is working on identifying solutions for its customers during this difficult time.

The Alaska Marine Highway System's ferry Lituya could help restore the link between Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan as soon as next week.