Seldovia Village Tribe has applied for two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits to do dock work in Homer and Seldovia for its new Seldovia Bay Ferry, the Kachemak Voyager.

SVT plans to build a new passenger and freight gangway at the east end of AAA and JJ floats on the north side of the Homer Harbor.

In Seldovia, SVT plans to build a 300-foot hard pier and floating dock into Seldovia Bay by the SVT Conference Center between the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry dock and the harbor entrance.

Because both projects impact tidal waters, Corps of Engineers permits are required. No dredging is planned for either project. Steel pilings will be driven into the ocean bottom at both projects.

The Kachemak Voyager will be homeported in Seldovia. In Homer, it will dock at the east end of JJ float at a transient boat area, said Harbormaster Bryan Hawkins.

SVT will build a passenger gangway and a freight gangway extending from a parking lot down to JJ float. The passenger gangway will be open to the public, but the freight gangway will be private. SVT also will lease lot 21, part of the parking lot on the north side of the harbor west of the U.S. Coast Guard building. If permitting is approved, construction will start in the spring.

Other transient boats will be allowed to dock at JJ float, Hawkins said.

The Kachemak Voyager was christened last July and has been undergoing sea trials. Service between Homer and Seldovia is expected to start in the summer.

The twin-hull catamaran boat can seat up to 169 passengers, with 150 interior seats. Round-trip tickets are $59 plus tax for adults and $29.50 plus tax for children 12 and under. One-way freight shipping also is available. A Web site, seldoviabayferry.com, is under construction. For reservations, call (877) 703-3779.

SVT's applications with the Corps of Engineers are available online at www.poa.usace.army.mil/reg/PNnew.htm, applications POA-1981-465-M8 and POA-1918-001-M5. Public comments can be made and are due by Dec. 21. Send comments by mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division, CEPOA-RD, 805 Frontage Road, Suite 200C, Kenai AK 99611-7755, or by e-mail to Jen Knowles at jen.knowles@usace.army.mil. For questions on the permits, call Knowles at (907) 283-3519.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.