Alaska's marine highway turns 45: new deputy commissioner aims to guide ferry system to safe harbor.

• Author: Lavrakas, Dimitra
• Position: TRANSPORTATION

The Alaska Marine Highway celebrates 45 years of providing regular, year-round service throughout the state and the Pacific Northwest since 1963. An example of the far-sightedness of two Alaskans whose vision benefited many, the ferry service began as a distinctly Alaska-style answer to a need.

In 1948, Haines residents Steve Homer and Ray Gelotte converted a surplus World War II LCT-Mark 6 landing craft into the M/V Chilkoot, and started a ferry service, Chilkoot Motorship Lines, up the Lynn Canal from Tee Harbor in Juneau to Haines and Skagway. The Territorial Board of Road Commissioners purchased the business in 1951.

In 1963, it officially became known as the Alaska Marine Highway System, still making just the run up the canal. Four years later, the southernmost ports of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, and Bellingham, Wash., were added.

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THE 'BLUE CANOES' CONNECT ALASKA

The "Blue Canoes" as they were dubbed, are painted with the deep, night-sky blue of the Alaska state flag with the Big Dipper displayed across the ships' smokestacks in gold. Traditionally, the ships are named after glaciers.

The first official AMHS ferry, the M/V Chilkat, at 99 feet in length, was tiny compared to any of the present members of the fleet. It had the ability to carry 59 passengers and 15 vehicles, and load from the beach or a dock because of its unique configuration. The largest ferry today is the M/V Kennicott at 382 feet long, 85 feet wide, with nine decks; it can carry 499 passengers and 80 standard automobiles, and offers 48 four-berth cabins and 56 two-berth cabins. The Kennicott was designed to serve as a command and logistics center during an oil spill or other natural disaster.

With the addition of two fast catamaran ferries, AMHS' fleet totals 11 vessels: M/V Aurora (in service since 1977), M/V Chenega (2005), M/V Columbia (1974), M/V Fairweather (2004), a/v Kennicott (1998), M/N LeConte (1974), M/V Lituya (2004),M/V Malaspina (1963), M/V Matanuska (1963 and lengthened in 1968), M/V Taku (1963) and the MN Tustumena (1964), nicknamed "Trusty Tusty."

All have cafeterias or snack bars, gift shop, solariums, forward observation lounges and carry cars and trucks. Some have staterooms, shower rooms, board and video game rooms, children's playrooms, theaters where free movies are shown, cafeterias, snack bars or dining rooms, and cocktail lounges--complete with a dance floor.

For the communities on the highway with no...