Alaska pays the price of not paying for maintenance

Alaska pays the price of not paying for maintenance

No surprise, but the state ferry Matanuska, once the stalwart of the fleet, needs more than 120,000 pounds of new steel to replace extensive sections of rust on the ship. Launched in 1963, the Mat has endured decades of saltwater and seas. But no more—it is tied to the dock in Ketchikan, serving as floating housing for ferry workers. It has been held out of service since late 2022. The citizens ad...

Guest Editorial: Alaska pays the price of not paying for maintenance

No surprise, but the state ferry Matanuska, once the stalwart of the fleet, needs more than 120,000 pounds of new steel to replace extensive sections of rust on the ship. Launched in 1963, the Mat has endured decades of saltwater and seas. But no more—it is tied to the dock in Ketchikan, serving as floating housing for ferry workers. It has been held out of service since late 2022. The citizens ad...