The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities noted on April 1 that three Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) vessels – the Columbia, Kennicott, and Tustumena – will not be returning to service as originally scheduled due to COVID-19.

[Above photo via the Alaska DOT&PF.]

The agency noted in a statement that it tentatively plans for the vessels to resume service in mid-May. Meanwhile, all passengers are being notified and rebooked or refunded as necessary.

The Alaska DOT&PF added that emergency orders implementing travel restrictions are now in place for the communities of Angoon and Hoonah and thus traffic demand for those communities is falling. As a result, AMHS is reducing service levels to both villages, only providing essential grocery deliveries until the Coronavirus crisis has abated.