MALASPINA

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Decommissioned ferry sold for preservation

The 'Malaspina' will stay in Ward Cove under a sales agreement between the M/V Malaspina LLC and the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. The M/V Malaspina LLC and the Ward Cove Group plan to use the vessel in a historic restoration effort to showcase Ketchikan’s logging and maritime history for the Ketchikan-based visitor’s business. The ship will likely serve as worker housing and a potential maritime museum, and a training platform for students working towards a career in the maritime industry.T he ship was decommissioned in 2019 when it became clear she would not sail again for AMHS due to the cost of repairs and the advanced age. After pursuing several proposals that failed to reach a sale or transfer, AMHS received interest from the M/V Malaspina LLC. To perform due diligence, the state requested Letters of Interest from any domestic buyer in Feb 2022. The 'Malaspina' is being sold as-is for $128,250.00. The state will save more than $425,000 annually in mooring fees, security, and repairs by selling the ship.

Idled ferry may become a museum

The state of Alaska has entered negotiations for a proposal to sell the 'Malaspina' to the owners of a private cruise ship dock in Ketchikan’s Ward Cove to be used after 59 years of service as a museum for the history of the state ferry system. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced on MArch 14, 2022, that it has entered into negotiations to sell the ferry to John Binkley, the president of M/V Malaspina LLC. He has a long family history in Alaska. The 'Malaspina' has been idled in the Ward Cove since December 2019, costing the state $75,000 per month. The state has considered scrapping the ferry and also sinking it. A letter of interest from the M/V Malaspina LLC outlines plans for the ferry to be used as a maritime museum to showcase Alaska’s history and support tourism businesses based in Ketchikan and as a training facility for the University of Alaska’s Maritime Training Center in Ketchikan. The terms of the deal including the price of the ferry have yet to be finalized. Negotiations with the state were already in process but no time frame has been announced.

Letters of Interest solicited for ferry in long time lay-up

Due to recent interest from a U.S. buyer to purchase the 'Malaspina', the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is soliciting Letters of Interest between Feb. 18, 2022, and March 7, 2022. Alaska DOT&PF encourages any U.S. buyer with interest in purchasing the vessel, and retaining the vessel in Alaska, to respond to the State’s Request for Information by March 7. The ferry has been moored at Ward Cove in Ketchikan in long-term layup since December 2019 due to the cosst to repair the vessel. Repairs were initially estimated at around $16 million, but have increased substantially since the discovery of significant steel damage, estimated midlife conversion requirements, and the need to repower the engine system. The State will consider all letters of Interest received by March 7, 2022, and determine whether or not to further pursue any of the proposals.