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Article: Cruising the Blue HIGHWAY.(Alaska's ferry system)
- Article from:
- Alaska Business Monthly
- Article date:
- May 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The state's ferry system provides an inexpensive cruise alternative.
Less than a year ago, managers of the Alaska Marine Highway System were scrambling to readjust bookings for thousands of travelers on the state's ferry system in the midst of the busy tourism season.
A fire that broke out on the M/V Columbia-the largest Ship in the state ferry system--took the 418-foot vessel out of commission starting June 6 and continuing throughout the year.
Overnight, the state-owned fleet of nine ferry ships suddenly dropped in size and carrying capacity, just as the 2000 summer tourism season was starting in earnest.
"It was a major undertaking ...