The Inter-Island Ferry Authority is a ferry service that connects Prince of Wales Island in Alaska with Ketchikan, providing Island residents with necessary, affordable transportation for work, pleasure and medical care for over twenty years. With the added benefit of beautiful views of wildlife, sunrises, and sunsets. While the IFA operates like a bus, the scenery makes it unlike any bus ride you will find anywhere.
HISTORY
The City of Craig was instrumental in bringing the IFA into existence in 1994. By 1997 the communities of Klawock, Craig, Thorne Bay, Coffman Cove, Wrangell and Petersburg had formally created the Inter-Island Ferry Authority with the plan for two service routes. The northern route connecting Wrangell, Petersburg and POW, and a southern route from POW to Ketchikan. In 1998 the State of Alaska supported the creation, and the Congressional Delegation was able to secure $12.6 million for the building of two vessels, which are both still in operation today. The Board of Directors was seated in 1998: Harvey McDonald (Thorne Bay), DeeDee Jefferies (Coffman Cove), Otis Gibbons & Tom Briggs (Craig), Ray Demmert (Klawock), John Baker (Wrangell), Richard (Dewey) Duval (Petersburg). And work began on the building of our first vessel, M/V Prince of Wales.
M/V Prince of Wales was designed by Elliot Bay Design Group out of Seattle, Washington and built by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington. She is 197.5 feet long, travels at 15 knots, and has a carrying capacity of 160 passengers and 30 vehicles operated by a crew of 5. Passenger amenities are a galley (operated by O.U.R. Team), solarium, forward observation lounge, and a children’s play area which can play movies on request. In December of 2001, the POW arrived in Ketchikan for the first time and made her Maiden Voyage between Hollis and Ketchikan on January 13, 2002. In 2008 the M/V Stikine became the primary ship servicing the southern route, with the POW filling in when needed.
After building a successful route between Hollis and Ketchikan, planning for the M/V Stikine to serve Petersburg and Wrangell began. The M/V Stikine, named after the Stikine River in Wrangell, was built identical to the POW with the addition of improvements made based on two years of experience with the POW, a capacity of 190 passengers, a more powerful bow thruster, three generators and enclosed bridge wings. The Stikine made her maiden voyage on May 18, 2006 and operated the northern route only during the summers when tourist traffic increased Southeast Alaska travel. During the winter she helped maintain the southern route during maintenance. But the northern route could not sustain the Stikine, and after sailing the summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008 the route was dropped. And the Stikine was placed on the southern route full-time.
The City of Craig was instrumental in bringing the IFA into existence in 1994. By 1997 the communities of Klawock, Craig, Thorne Bay, Coffman Cove, Wrangell and Petersburg had formally created the Inter-Island Ferry Authority with the plan for two service routes. The northern route connecting Wrangell, Petersburg and POW, and a southern route from POW to Ketchikan. In 1998 the State of Alaska supported the creation, and the Congressional Delegation was able to secure $12.6 million for the building of two vessels, which are both still in operation today. The Board of Directors was seated in 1998: Harvey McDonald (Thorne Bay), DeeDee Jefferies (Coffman Cove), Otis Gibbons & Tom Briggs (Craig), Ray Demmert (Klawock), John Baker (Wrangell), Richard (Dewey) Duval (Petersburg). And work began on the building of our first vessel, M/V Prince of Wales.
M/V Prince of Wales was designed by Elliot Bay Design Group out of Seattle, Washington and built by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington. She is 197.5 feet long, travels at 15 knots, and has a carrying capacity of 160 passengers and 30 vehicles operated by a crew of 5. Passenger amenities are a galley (operated by O.U.R. Team), solarium, forward observation lounge, and a children’s play area which can play movies on request. In December of 2001, the POW arrived in Ketchikan for the first time and made her Maiden Voyage between Hollis and Ketchikan on January 13, 2002. In 2008 the M/V Stikine became the primary ship servicing the southern route, with the POW filling in when needed.
After building a successful route between Hollis and Ketchikan, planning for the M/V Stikine to serve Petersburg and Wrangell began. The M/V Stikine, named after the Stikine River in Wrangell, was built identical to the POW with the addition of improvements made based on two years of experience with the POW, a capacity of 190 passengers, a more powerful bow thruster, three generators and enclosed bridge wings. The Stikine made her maiden voyage on May 18, 2006 and operated the northern route only during the summers when tourist traffic increased Southeast Alaska travel. During the winter she helped maintain the southern route during maintenance. But the northern route could not sustain the Stikine, and after sailing the summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008 the route was dropped. And the Stikine was placed on the southern route full-time.
TODAY
Today the M/V Stikine still operates as the full-time vessel on the Southern Route making the 3-hour, 36-mile trip twice a day. And the IFA works with the Alaska Marine Highway to provide backup services when needed. With the IFA filling in when the M/V Lituya is out of service and diverted from her Metlakatla to Ketchikan route. And when both IFA vessels are down the M/V Lituya has filled in. The M/V Stikine has been in the shipyard over the winter for a complete remodel, and the M/V POW has been filling in for her. The Stikine is set to return online in the summer of 2023.
Today the M/V Stikine still operates as the full-time vessel on the Southern Route making the 3-hour, 36-mile trip twice a day. And the IFA works with the Alaska Marine Highway to provide backup services when needed. With the IFA filling in when the M/V Lituya is out of service and diverted from her Metlakatla to Ketchikan route. And when both IFA vessels are down the M/V Lituya has filled in. The M/V Stikine has been in the shipyard over the winter for a complete remodel, and the M/V POW has been filling in for her. The Stikine is set to return online in the summer of 2023.
