MV Columbia

MV Columbia is a mainline ferry for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Constructed in 1974 by Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, Washington, the Columbia has been the flagship of the Alaska ferry system for over 40 years. As a mainline ferry, which means she serves the largest of the inside passage communities (such as Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, Haines, Skagway, and Sitka), her route spans the entirety of the inside passage, often beginning runs in Bellingham, Washington and running to the northernmost Alaskan Panhandle community of Skagway stopping in communities along the way, during the summer season (winter services are sometimes operated by MV Malaspina). Columbia has an upper deck between the main vehicle deck and the cabin deck with additional vehicle stowage accessed by two vehicle elevators capable of hoisting 19 foot vehicles with their passengers, and additional passenger cabins. On July 2, 2006, an auxiliary engine room fire broke out on the Columbia temporarily impairing steering and propulsion on her northbound voyage from Bellingham in Seymour Narrows in Canadian waters. She motored to Duncan Bay, British Columbia for damage assessment before continuing on to Ketchikan's Alaska Ship & Dry Dock for more extensive repairs.