The Skagway port in Alaska under the Alaska Marine Highway System is currently shut down due to significant structural damage to its docking facility. Consequently, all ferry operations to and from Skagway are on hold. In addition, the South Klondike Highway linking Whitehorse and Skagway is closed between Carcross, Yukon, and the B.C. border from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily following recent rock slides.
Gabe Strong, the public information officer for the Alaska Marine Highway System, reported that initial cracking on the port’s vehicle bridge and passenger walkway was noticed on Thursday. Subsequent monitoring by staff led to the closure of the terminal by Alaska Department of Transportation engineers on Saturday due to further cracking.
To address the situation, leadership and technical personnel from the Alaska Department of Transportation are en route to Skagway to supervise the response and assist local staff. Commercial divers will soon conduct underwater inspections to assess damages, including the anchor chains. Electricians are currently disconnecting all electrical power to the float, with plans to remove the bridge and walkway by Wednesday.
Ongoing assessments will aim to determine the cause of the incident, with more details to follow accordingly. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries. Ensuring passenger and crew safety remains the top priority, with operations set to resume only after a thorough inspection and full security clearance.
While no specific timeline is available for the resumption of services, updates will be provided post completion of the damage assessment. The Alaska Marine Highway System is actively reaching out to passengers with existing reservations to facilitate refunds and arrange alternative travel plans.