Tustumena Fails Shipyard Inspection Again
Friday, July 26 2013
M/V Tustumena (Nancy Heise)
Facing further delays in shipyard, the state has canceled the Tustumena’s sailings for the rest of the summer. Department of Transportation spokesperson Jeremy Woodrow says welding work on the ship’s hull once again failed a Coast Guard inspection.
“Because those welds haven’t met the standards, the Coast Guard has said ‘you need to redo this larger area,’ so that it meets their requirements.”
There’s no timeline for how long it might take to complete that work, so DOT has canceled the Tustumena’s sailings. The Aleutians won’t be left completely without ferry service though. Woodrow says the Kennicott will make at least one run out to the Chain in September. But that ferry is too big though to serve some Aleutian communities, like Akutan, False Pass, and Chignik, as well as several villages on Kodiak Island.
Woodrow says 350 passengers had reservations on the Tustumena's cancelled sailings.
The delays are costing Seward Ships Dry Dock $20,000 a day.
Just Saying on Wednesday, July 31 2013:
Kudos to the US Coast Guard for making sure the work done on the Tustamena is sea worthy. Yes, the delays have caused many inconveniences for those who live on the chain but, I would rather deal with that than the potential disaster. Shame on the Tustamena for rushing through and not being more attentive to the work performed. If you cannot hire competent welders to do the job right, then shame on you. Shame on you, Tustamena, it looks like there is little regard to safety. Come on get real here..
rusty trusty tusty on Monday, July 29 2013:
If they transported processing plant workers instead of locals and tourists; you could expect the ships to be in top shape!