M/V Columbia, Alaska Marine Highway System
The M/V Columbia is designed to carry 499 passengers and has a vehicle capacity of 2,660 linear feet, which is equal to approximately 133 twenty-foot vehicles. There are 45 four-berth and 56 two-berth cabins, as well as 3 wheelchair-accessible cabins.
www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/fleet/columbia.shtml
On July 5, 1974 M/V Columbia was acquired with a homeport of Ketchikan. M/V Columbia is the largest vessel of the fleet, and until 2004 was also the fastest.
The vessel is 418 feet long and 85 feet wide, with a domestic gross tonnage of 3,946 and a service speed of 17.3 knots.
The spacious M/V Columbia is one of only two Alaska Marine Highway System vessels with a dining room. Other onboard amenities include observation lounges with comfortable chairs, a covered heated solarium, a cafeteria-style restaurant, a movie lounge, showers, coin-operated laundry and lockers, writing and quiet lounges, and a child's play area.
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M/V Columbia, Alaska Marine Highway System
The M/V Columbia is designed to carry 499 passengers and has a vehicle capacity of 2,660 linear feet, which is equal to approximately 133 twenty-foot vehicles. There are 45 four-berth and 56 two-berth cabins, as well as 3 wheelchair-accessible cabins.
www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/fleet/columbia.shtml
On July 5, 1974 M/V Columbia was acquired with a homeport of Ketchikan. M/V Columbia is the largest vessel of the fleet, and until 2004 was also the fastest.
The vessel is 418 feet long and 85 feet wide, with a domestic gross tonnage of 3,946 and a service speed of 17.3 knots.
The spacious M/V Columbia is one of only two Alaska Marine Highway System vessels with a dining room. Other onboard amenities include observation lounges with comfortable chairs, a covered heated solarium, a cafeteria-style restaurant, a movie lounge, showers, coin-operated laundry and lockers, writing and quiet lounges, and a child's play area.
© All Rights Reserved
M/V Columbia, Alaska Marine Highway System
The M/V Columbia is designed to carry 499 passengers and has a vehicle capacity of 2,660 linear feet, which is equal to approximately 133 twenty-foot vehicles. There are 45 four-berth and 56 two-berth cabins, as well as 3 wheelchair-accessible cabins.
www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/fleet/columbia.shtml
On July 5, 1974 M/V Columbia was acquired with a homeport of Ketchikan. M/V Columbia is the largest vessel of the fleet, and until 2004 was also the fastest.
The vessel is 418 feet long and 85 feet wide, with a domestic gross tonnage of 3,946 and a service speed of 17.3 knots.
The spacious M/V Columbia is one of only two Alaska Marine Highway System vessels with a dining room. Other onboard amenities include observation lounges with comfortable chairs, a covered heated solarium, a cafeteria-style restaurant, a movie lounge, showers, coin-operated laundry and lockers, writing and quiet lounges, and a child's play area.
© All Rights Reserved
M/V Columbia, Alaska Marine Highway System
Alaska's Flag
Alaska's state flag features the Big Dipper (Ursa Major or Great Bear constellation) as a symbol of strength, and Polaris (North Star ) as a symbol of Alaska's northern location and "the ever constant star for the mariner, the explorer, hunter, trapper, prospector, woodsman, and the surveyor..."
The blue background represents the sky, sea, lakes, and wildflowers of Alaska (the blue alpine forget-me-not is the state flower of Alaska).
History of Alaska's Flag
The Alaska state flag, selected for its simplicity, originality, and symbolism, was created by Benny Benson, a 13 year old 7th grader from an orphanage in Seward, Alaska (John Bell Bensona; 1913-1972). Seward honors him with a monument on 3rd Avenue. Alaska's state song is titled "Alaska's Flag."
Notes: The North star is also found on the state flag of Maine. The Big Dipper constellation also contains "The Delaware Diamond" (state star of Delaware).
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Alaska Marina Highway Terminal, Bellingham, Washington
www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/
The Alaska Marina Highway (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 the highest passenger ridership in eight years and the highest vehicle ridership in sixteen. T
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 the decline in passenger and vehicle traffic (attributed to lack of tourists).
www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/history.shtml
History
The story of the Alaska Marine Highway System starts with three men who had a dream to provide dependable marine transportation between Alaska's coastal communities. That dream expanded to become the only marine route recognized as a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road. The system currently extends across 3,500 miles of scenic coastline and provides service to over 30 communities, each with their own unique intrinsic qualities.
On January 23, 1963, MV Malaspina arrived in Ketchikan causing a traffic jam as residents clamored to see their first ferry. Betty J. Marksheffel, a Ketchikan resident, wrote, "I was looking out the window and saw the Malaspina in Tongass Narrows. Something happened at that moment – THE FEELING OF ISOLATION WENT AWAY! – as I watched the ship coming up the channel. We could take our car, or walk onboard, and GO SOMEWHERE!!!! Our highway had arrived!" As the Malaspina headed north through Southeast Alaska the excitement swelled. In its first year the fleet successfully transported 16,000 vehicles and 83,000 passengers.
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