Story last updated at 8/14/2009 - 10:37 am
The Marine Transportation Advisory Board will seek millions in additional dollars for its vessel replacement fund, while Alaska Marine Highway System officials are increasingly being confronted with problems of broken down boats disrupting schedules.
The fleet is predominately older vessels, some more than 40 years old facing increasing maintenance costs, but it is often its newest ships that are crippled with mechanical flaws, ferry managers said.
The Fast Vehicle Ferry Fairweather has been plagued by engine breakdowns recently, and some ferry officials are expressing doubts about whether the technologically advanced but delicate fast ferries can be used in the future.
"They're like trying to keep........... http://juneauempire.com/stories/081409/loc_481687437.shtml