Goldbelt Transportation and Allen Marine Tours will be serving winter ferry routes from Juneau to other cities and villages in Southeast Alaska beginning this month.
The Juneau stop for the routes will be at Don D. Statter Memorial Harbor in Auke Bay, said Sam Dapcevich, a Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesperson.
Invitations to bid went out in November and December, Dapcevich said. Village service will go from Juneau to Hoonah, Pelican, Gustavus, Tenakee Springs and Angoon, Dapcevich said. Southeast service to Haines, Skagway, and Sitka, as well as a Ketchikan-Wrangell-Petersburg were also announced, with sailing dates determined by the contractor and an Alaska Marine Highway System scheduling team, Dapcevich said.
“We’re excited to start this partnership,” said Goldbelt Transportation’s Captain Clint Songer in a news release. “I’m appreciative of the opportunity to serve our Southeast community.”
The Allen Marine route to Hoonah and Pelican began on Jan. 19. Goldbelt-managed routes to Hoonah and Gustavus will begin on Jan. 26, with the route to Tenakee and Angoon will begin on Jan. 27, with sales ending the day before the sailing.
The contacts are as-needed, Dapcevich said, but no summer service by the contractors is expected at this time.
Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.